Joanna Kakissis
Appearances
Consider This from NPR
The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance as Trump sides with Russia
So Zelensky has remained calm and he's tried to be diplomatic. And he seemed concerned, not angry, when he said yesterday that President Trump seems to live in a Russian-created space of disinformation. Trump is repeating Kremlin talking points. He's blaming Ukraine for the war, even as Russia continues to attack the country every night. And he's claiming Zelensky is an illegitimate president.
Consider This from NPR
The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance as Trump sides with Russia
And now Ukrainians are, you know, they very much want this war to end. But they've been watching the Trump administration's actions with disbelief. We spoke to several Ukrainians who are outraged by Trump's comments. Olena Tokovenko, she's a 47-year-old lawyer. She said Trump is acting like he owns Ukraine.
Consider This from NPR
The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance as Trump sides with Russia
Because this is Russia's policy coming through Trump. The feeling that the White House is aligned with Russia is so shocking to Ukrainians because they have staked their very survival as a country on Western-style democracy and liberty, which they believe the U.S. was a beacon of.
Consider This from NPR
The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance as Trump sides with Russia
Well, Scott, he's here this week, but it's really not clear how much authority he has. And this point seemed to be driven home today when we went to the presidential palace for another press conference, this time with Kellogg and Zelensky. But while we were waiting to sit down for this press conference, Zelensky's spokesman said it would not happen at the request of the American side.
Consider This from NPR
The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance as Trump sides with Russia
The Russians are pressing for a big ceasefire, and that ceasefire— would include caps on the size of Ukraine's military. It would impose strict limits on Western cooperation with Ukraine. And it would close the door to Ukraine's membership in NATO. Joanna, what about Ukraine?
Consider This from NPR
The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance as Trump sides with Russia
So, Scott, Ukraine wants very strong security guarantees to protect itself from Russia to avoid more invasions in the future. And Zelensky says he will not give up Ukraine's push for NATO membership or its wish to get back territory occupied by Russia. And Ukrainians, they also want Russia to be held accountable for war crimes. But with the Trump administration, all this is up in the air.
Consider This from NPR
The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance as Trump sides with Russia
You're welcome.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
Good morning, Michelle.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
Well, Michelle, we don't know a whole lot so far. This pause appears to affect at least a billion dollars in weapons and ammunition en route and on order for Ukraine. It's unclear whether this pause also includes cutting off intelligence sharing, a partnership that has helped Ukraine strategize and plan. I should emphasize that this is the worst case scenario for Ukrainians, since the U.S.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
has been the country's strongest single ally. since Russia's full-scale invasion three years ago. And it's painful for Ukrainians because President Zelensky has repeatedly thanked the U.S. for helping his country. And Ukrainians say they are fighting to preserve American-style liberty and democracy.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
there hasn't been much official reaction yet though a member of ukraine's parliament said lawmakers have been in meetings to find alternatives to usaid i've been speaking with ukrainians over the last few days and many say they were expecting something like this even before friday's debacle in the oval office president trump was repeating kremlin talking points for example
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
claiming it was Ukraine, not Russia, that started the war. And the Trump administration has not been pushing back on some of Moscow's demands, including Ukraine giving up territory and a path to NATO membership.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
Well, Michelle, there might not be an immediate impact. A member of the Ukrainian Parliament's Defense Committee said today that Ukraine might be able to hold on for about six months without U.S. aid. Ukraine's defense industry has also been growing exponentially since Russia's 2022 invasion. So some supplies can also come from Ukraine itself.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
For example, Ukraine has become a powerhouse manufacturer of drones. which can replace artillery to some extent on the battlefield. But Ukraine can't replace everything like Bradley fighting vehicles or GPS guided rockets or crucially Patriot air defense systems, which are key to protecting Ukrainian cities from nightly attacks by Russian drones and missiles.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
And also there is the Starlink system owned by Trump ally Elon Musk. Starlink helps the military communicate.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
Yeah, well, holding up military aid back then certainly had a clear impact. The lack of air defense systems meant Ukrainian cities were less protected from Russian attacks, as were Ukraine's thermal power plants, which Russia repeatedly bombed and largely destroyed. And soldiers on the front line ran so low on artillery shells that they had to ration them.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
Some military analysts here say Russia, as a result, was able to take key cities because of weakened Ukrainian defenses.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
Well, Michelle, Europe has stepped up its support and recent research shows that the bloc could make up the difference in military aid, at least for a while. This morning, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also laid out a plan for the EU to boost its own defense spending by about 800 billion euros.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
But without the U.S., defending Ukraine and Europe will be challenging, especially in the long run.
Up First from NPR
Ukraine Funds Paused, Trump Addresses Congress, Tariffs Begin
You're welcome, Michelle.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
Thanks for having me, Scott.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
Well, Scott, I would describe the reaction as outrage laced with panic. The U.S. is Ukraine's most important single ally, and Zelensky himself has said repeatedly that it will be very hard for Ukraine to keep defending itself against Russia without U.S. support. I got several text messages from Ukrainians I know saying, oh, no, it's over, and they wondered why.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
With the Trump administration embracing Russia, what will happen to Ukraine? And now this is the panic talking. But what's been louder than the panic has been the anger. Ukrainians are rallying around Zelensky, recording TikTok videos supporting him and writing on social media.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
Likening President Trump and Vice President Vance to schoolyard bullies who set out to humiliate and browbeat Zelensky, one prominent Ukrainian politician, Mustafa Nayyem, posted a godfather meme and wrote, quote, This administration doesn't just dislike us, they despise us. Not just Zelensky, but us, as a country, as a problem, as an annoying obstacle in their cozy world of backroom deals.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
We spoke to Ukrainians about this last night at the Kiev food market. They brought it up and this idea that Vance thinks Zelensky isn't grateful. And they pointed out that Zelensky has literally thanked the U.S. almost every single time he speaks publicly. They found it baffling that Vance would claim this since it's easy to check.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
A Ukrainian soldier, Denis Sokolov, he told us that Ukraine and the Trump administration have two different goals.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
So, Scott, making peace versus making a deal.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
Well, I hear many Ukrainians saying, look, let's work more closely with Europe where ties are already strong. Zelensky is now in London and is preparing to join a European conference on Sunday. European Union leaders have publicly defended Zelensky, including the EU's top diplomat, Kaya Kalas.
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Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
She wrote on social media that the free world needs a new leader now, and it's up to us, the Europeans, to take this challenge. Here in Ukraine, political analysts say Zelensky is in a terrible spot. since Trump seems to dislike Zelensky and seems to openly favor Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
Here's Oleksandr Kraev, the North America director for the Ukrainian PRISM Foreign Policy Council in Kiev.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
But Kriove did say he expects Zelensky to keep trying to get through to President Trump.
Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
You're welcome.