President Donald Trump fielded pointed questions from Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday about his administration’s stance on Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
In a wide-ranging interview on “Sunday Morning Futures,” Bartiromo pressed Trump on whether he is “comfortable” with the possibility that Ukraine “may not survive” the conflict—a concern heightened by his recent policy shifts and a tense Oval Office clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Bartiromo referenced a conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda, who expressed doubts about Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia’s aggression without robust U.S. support.
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“Are you comfortable with that? The fact that you walked away, and Ukraine may not survive?” she asked.
Trump’s response was characteristically blunt: “Well, it may not survive anyway. But, you know, we have some weaknesses with Russia. It takes two. Look, it was not going to happen, that war, and it happened. So, now we’re stuck with this mess.”
The interview comes as Trump’s approach to Ukraine has rattled the international community. A fiery Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy recently ended in shouting, derailing a rare earth mineral deal meant to kickstart ceasefire talks.
Trump administration officials have since pivoted, engaging directly with Russian leaders to broker a potential deal—moves critics say effectively sideline Ukraine. European leaders, stunned by the shift, are scrambling to chart a path forward without U.S. backing, though Trump aides insist a resolution remains possible.
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Bartiromo probed deeper, asking if Trump’s team was treating Russia and Ukraine equally. Trump, who once called the question “interesting,” replied, “I think so.” When pressed on whether he favored one side, he deflected: “They’re very different places, OK? Very, very different. You’re talking about different levels of power. You’re talking about different parts of the world.”
The exchange spotlighted Trump’s broader agenda, including his tariff plans and a busy start to his administration, but Ukraine dominated the conversation.
His comments follow a pattern of ambivalence—he’s previously suggested Ukraine “may be Russian someday” and cut military aid, drawing alarm from allies. Bartiromo, recently appointed by Trump to the Kennedy Center Board, balanced her questions with a focus on his domestic priorities, yet the Ukraine issue underscored a stark foreign policy pivot.
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As Trump navigates these talks, the stakes for Ukraine—and U.S. global standing—remain high. With European leaders reeling and Zelenskyy sidelined, Trump’s next moves could redefine the conflict’s trajectory.
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