ASSESSMENTS

In Ukraine, Fears of a U.S. Pivot to Russia

Feb 1, 2017 | 09:00 GMT

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met Jan. 30 with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in an effort to solidify EU support for his country.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met Jan. 30 with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in an effort to solidify EU support for his country.

(ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump had a busy first week in office. Within days of his inauguration, Trump had already begun making good on campaign promises, laying the groundwork to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and temporarily suspending immigration to the United States. Then, during his eighth day in office, Jan. 28, Trump held his first direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During their telephone conversation, the two leaders stressed the importance of "restoring mutually beneficial trade and economic ties" between their countries. They also agreed to work together on foreign policy issues, touching on the Middle East, North Korea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. This last area of collaboration raised concern among members of the Ukrainian government who fear that warmer ties between the United States and Russia could damage Kiev's strategic position and lead to reduced support from Washington. As the Trump administration re-evaluates U.S....

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