For many Ukrainians, US President Donald Trump has become a deep disappointment – and so has the United States.
Judging by social media reactions, 2025 has been a turning point in how Ukrainians view the US and its leadership. After Trump’s election victory in late 2024, many in Ukraine initially welcomed his return, hoping his reputation for decisiveness would translate into a tougher stance on Russia. Those expectations quickly faded.
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Disillusionment was soon driven by Trump’s pressure on Kyiv to accept unfavorable peace terms, the halting of arms deliveries, and rhetoric that blamed Ukraine rather than Russia. The shift was especially stark given widespread frustration with what many Ukrainians already saw as his predecessor Joe Biden’s slow and cautious approach to military assistance, despite US security commitments tied to Ukraine’s decision to give up its nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum in 1994.
But the backlash has also reinforced a growing sense of self-reliance, with many Ukrainians believing they are now resisting not only Russia and its allies, but also a US increasingly viewed as unreliable regarding Ukraine.
Kyiv Post identified five episodes that sparked a wave of memes and came to symbolize Ukraine’s shifting perception of Trump.
Episode 1: White House clash
Trump’s infamous clash at the White House with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 28, 2025, showed that Trump’s “peace through strength” approach might have been equated to Ukraine’s capitulation through unilateral concessions, with no discussion of reciprocal steps by Russia.
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His “You don’t have the cards” remark to Zelensky also left many Ukrainians with the impression that Kyiv was no longer viewed as an ally of the US, while Moscow might now be. The exchange sent ripples across Ukrainian social media, compounded by what many saw as the public humiliation of its wartime leader – one who was, in effect, bearing the brunt of NATO’s original mission by resisting Russia and degrading its military capacity.
Reacting to Zelensky’s subsequent visit to King Charles III of Britain, news producer Oleksiy Mustafin wrote: “After threats from the American emperor, the king decided to put on a suit.”
Ukrainians were also struck by the openly pro-Russian position of Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.
One popular Ukrainian account wrote on X, mocking an imagined observation by Monica Lewinsky: “You know, I’ve seen everything in the Oval Office, but to have the President of the United States suck on live television...”
“Why are you so ungrateful, and why no suit?” one user wrote sarcastically, posting the comment alongside an image from the film set of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.”
And of course, the answer to the question of who looked like a clown in the room.
Some users also mocked the leaders’ supposed masculinity, contrasting an “alpha” and “beta” male.
“You will not see a better analysis today,” one user wrote, attaching a meme depicting Zelensky as an alpha male.
Episode 2: “Zelensky is a dictator”
Ukrainians were also stunned by Trump’s statement on Feb. 19, days before the White House clash, in which he labeled Zelensky a “dictator” and suggested Ukraine was to blame for the war.
The claim echoed a long-running Russian propaganda line that Zelensky lost legitimacy in 2024, despite Ukrainian law extending presidential powers under martial law.
The remarks fueled a widespread belief in Ukraine that Trump was echoing Kremlin narratives. Ukrainians responded with irony and mockery on social media, even after criticism from US media prompted Trump to deny using the phrase and say he could not believe he had said it.
Ukrainians, in keeping with their signature dry humor, mocked Trump’s public backtracking.
“Russian War-Trump – go f**k yourself! Oh, did I write that? I can’t believe I could write such a thing!” wrote Vasyl Baidak, a Ukrainian comedian.
“You didn’t like Biden with dementia? Here’s Trump with bipolar disorder,” a social media user joked. Another user said, “Maybe Melania kept grandpa off his meds, now he’s back on.”
A cartoon captioned “It wouldn’t have happened if I were president!” shows Trump pointing at Christ’s crucifixion, mocking his repeated claims that Russia’s war in Ukraine wouldn’t have occurred under his leadership.
In another meme, users referenced Trump’s 1990s cameo in “Home Alone 2,” adding a caption showing him asking the protagonist why he attacked the intruders.
“Why did you attack two tough men?” the caption says.
Episode 3: Sanctions
Trump’s habit of repeatedly giving Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin “two weeks” to show progress also sparked a flood of memes from Ukrainian users.
Another frequent target of Ukrainian social media satire was Trump’s handling of sanctions on Russia. Throughout 2025, he repeatedly echoed Russian narratives, criticized Ukraine, and expressed sympathy for Russian troops “dying on the battlefield,” while claiming he would impose stronger sanctions if Russia refused peace.
After close to a year of negotiations, the only measure implemented was partial sanctions on Lukoil, which were partially lifted in December.
“Trump gave Putin and his friends another 50 days! But under current conditions, strengthening sanctions does not require another 50 days,” international journalist Kristina Zeleniuk wrote, referring to Trump’s 50-day ceasefire deadline for Putin in July that resulted in neither a ceasefire nor sanctions – and instead earned Putin an in-person meeting with Trump on US soil.
(Screenshot from Kristina Zeleniuk / Facebook)
“The US is squandering the potential of oil sanctions that Trump announced with such pomp a month ago, because his goal is not to force Russia to peace, but to strike a deal. Hence the imbalance in concessions,” analyst Maria Zolkina wrote.
“Ukraine gets pseudo-promises of pseudo-guarantees. Russia gets concrete and measurable benefits.”
Episode 4: Alaska
Ukrainians’ disappointment with Trump peaked during his meeting with Putin in Alaska.
The very idea of the US president meeting a leader responsible for bombing Ukrainian cities, torturing prisoners, and wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for abducting tens of thousands of children was not an easy pill to swallow.
Social media was flooded with memes showing the two leaders shaking hands against the backdrop of Russian-destroyed Ukrainian buildings, as well as Trump appearing to bow before Putin – figuratively, at the very least.
A photoshopped picture depicting Trump kneeling to Putin (Image by minkal_Ukraine / Telegram)
Yaryna Chornohuz, a Ukrainian poet, soldier and war blogger, summarized her view as follows:
“This handshake means that the military invasion of sovereign states and slow genocide of nations are allowed and don’t need justice anymore. Allowed by the elected so-called democratic leader of the planet.”
Episode 5: The “Peace Plan”
Then comes the “peace plan” push at the end of the year.
The original 28-point draft essentially repackaged Kremlin war goals, with leaked recordings later suggesting it was drafted by Putin’s top aides, coached by pro-Russian US officials, before being adopted by the Trump administration.
The plan demanded Kyiv’s capitulation, including permanent cuts to Ukraine’s military and concessions of regions that Russia had failed to capture. Trump endorsed the plan and urged Ukraine to accept it by Thanksgiving.
He further fueled outrage by echoing Russian propaganda, insisting Ukraine must cede territory, hold elections, and that the country is “not quite a democracy,” sparking widespread backlash among Ukrainians.
“This is not Putin speaking – this is Trump! And it sounds like an aggressor talking about allegedly ‘already lost’ territories,” lawmaker Oleksandr Kovtunenko wrote.
“Trump’s behavior can be explained very simply – dementia that has affected an already far-from-the-best mind. It’s like your retired relative whom you persuaded of something for a long time, he agreed, and then ‘rolled back’ again,” wrote blogger and commentator Oleksandr Volodarsky.
Many in Ukraine also questioned Trump’s ability to negotiate quick deals, arguing that a fast resolution at any cost does not address underlying issues, as seen in renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.
“The Thai prime minister simply said that he does not remember the peace agreement he signed in Trump’s presence. Hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia resumed,” wrote analyst Yaroslav Lavrov.
“Trump’s verbal diarrhea with attacks on Ukraine and Europe is actually encouraging. It shows that the idea Witkoff tried to push together with the Kremlin is stalling,” wrote blogger Oleh Khelhiv.
Over the course of the year, Trump’s policies have evoked a range of reactions in Ukraine – from horror and disappointment to anger, ending in mockery and disgust.
Few Ukrainians believe he has the ability or willingness to pressure Moscow, or that the United States could provide meaningful security guarantees. Confidence that Trump would honor even part of any peace agreement is virtually nonexistent.
And that assumes Putin would agree to a deal at all.
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