Ukrainians are outraged after US President Donald Trump’s red carpet welcome to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a summit in Alaska. The event has reignited feelings of betrayal among Ukrainians who have suffered greatly under Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The images of the two leaders shaking hands and smiling at each other were met with shock and anger from many Kyiv residents, who feel that Trump is ignoring their country’s suffering. The lack of concrete decisions for Ukraine and the failure to address key issues such as sanctions also contributed to the sense of betrayal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had expected little progress from the meeting, stating that it would be a public relations victory for Putin. However, many Ukrainians felt that Trump’s actions were instead a personal favor to the Russian leader.
The summit has highlighted the difficulties faced by Ukraine in its struggle against Russia, with tens of thousands of Ukrainian service members killed or wounded and thousands of civilians killed in strikes. A fifth of the country remains under occupation, causing widespread disruption to families and communities.
Ukrainians have taken to social media to express their outrage, with memes featuring Putin and Trump walking down a red carpet strewn with dead Ukrainian bodies going viral. The event has also reignited hopes for a just peace in Ukraine, which were dashed when news emerged of the summit.
The visit marked a significant moment for Russia’s international isolation, ending after more than two years. However, for many Ukrainians, it was another painful reminder of their country’s suffering and loss. As Natalya Lypei, whose son died in the war, put it: “It hurts me a lot that my child died in a full-scale war, and today we saw a new funeral.”
Source: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-08-16/trump-greets-putin-with-a-red-carpet-ukrainians-feel-betrayed