In an interview with Time magazine, former US President Donald Trump said that support for Ukraine is an important lever for putting pressure on Russia. According to him, assistance to Kyiv should be viewed not only as a tool for protecting democratic values, but also as a strategic element of influencing Moscow's policies.

Trump stressed that when he returns to the White House, he will review current American policy towards Ukraine and Russia.

"We must use Ukraine's support wisely. It is not just a question of military aid, but an opportunity to build a diplomatic strategy that will force Russia to make concessions," - he declared.

These words have caused a wide resonance both in the United States and abroad. Analysts note that such an approach may indicate Trump’s desire to change the format of American involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. He has previously criticized the Biden administration for excessive financial spending on aid to Ukraine, arguing that such actions drain US resources.

It is noteworthy that Trump also stated the need for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

"Nobody wants to see endless conflict. But to achieve peace, we need to use our leverage effectively," — he added. However, the ex-president did not specify what concessions he expected from Moscow in exchange for reducing support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials reacted cautiously to Trump's statement. An adviser to the Ukrainian president said Kyiv hoped for continued strong U.S. support no matter who was in power.

"Ukraine is defending not only its independence, but also the security of Europe. We are confident that any US president understands this," — Podolyak noted.

Relations between the United States, Ukraine and Russia remain one of the key topics in world politics. Against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, any change in Washington's strategy could significantly affect the geopolitical situation.