The US president is sending weapons to Ukraine again – and receiving money for it from Europe. The aid is valuable for Ukraine, but Trump can end the business relationship at any time.

When Russia invaded Ukraine three and a half years ago, the United States made a bold promise: it would support the attacked country for as long as necessary. Many Ukrainians believed this at the time. Today, it sounds like a fairy tale from a bygone era. Even recent statements by US President Donald Trump have failed to even begin to regain the trust that many in Ukraine once placed in the United States.

Trump has understood: Putin wants war

This is due to Trump's motives. He has turned less toward Ukraine than away from Vladimir Putin, according to the general consensus in Kyiv. The presumed reason: Trump's growing disappointment that the Kremlin chief has rejected his extremely generous offers for peace. The US president has finally understood: Putin wants war—and will continue it as long as no one stops him.

But that's only half the truth. Ukraine has also refuted Trump's error, claiming that only US arms deliveries kept them alive. He has since admitted that the Ukrainians are"fighting with tremendous courage." The Ukrainians have so far withstood the Russian summer offensive remarkably well, both on the battlefield and psychologically in their cities. It was only through their enormous sacrifices that they achieved the point where Trump is now willing to empower them.

Not help, but a business relationship

It's also not lost on the people of Ukraine that Trump only wants to sell US weapons to Ukraine in the future. This isn't aid, but essentially a business relationship that can be terminated if it no longer seems opportune. Ukraine must therefore constantly strive to remain attractive to the boss in the White House.

European countries, especially Germany, will foot the bill for US arms deliveries. But this is less due to principles of international law or out of empathy, but rather because there is now a justified fear of Putin in the West as well. First, Ukraine is holding back the Russian army and wearing it down. Second, Ukraine is developing modern weapons that Western armies will also use for deterrence in the future.

The course correction implemented by Trump is undoubtedly valuable for Ukraine. The additional Patriot systems, which will hopefully arrive as soon as possible, will better protect the country from Russian missiles. But Ukrainians no longer harbor illusions, and they shouldn't. They have learned that international partnerships are based primarily on pragmatism.