What Ukrainians Living in New York Think of Trump and His Policies

Members of New York City's large Ukrainian community expressed a combination of disappointment, defiance and acute uncertainty about what the future holds for Ukraine following the "betrayal" of U.S. President Donald Trump. Guardian tells in more detail.

The geopolitical events of the last week have shaken Ukrainians at home and abroad, as well as American lawmakers and allies. The U.S. president appears to be largely backing Russian President Vladimir Putin to dictate peace terms on the eve of the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"Disinformation bubble"

Trump has lashed out at Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, calling him a "dictator" and falsely claiming that Ukraine started the war.

Zelensky expressed extreme disappointment at being excluded — along with European leaders — from U.S.-Russia talks to end the war. He accused Trump of living in a Kremlin “disinformation bubble,” while U.S. aides responded by telling Zelensky to “tone down” his remarks.

Monday, February 24, marked the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tensions between Kiev and Washington have escalated. Trump has upended decades of U.S. foreign policy. He has moved away from Europe and closer to Russia.

This has raised concerns about future American support for Ukraine.

"This is legitimizing Putin and sitting at the table with a war criminal"

New York City is home to the largest Ukrainian community in the United States, with about 150 Ukrainian residents in the city.

Veselka – a family-run Ukrainian restaurant. It opened in 1954 in Manhattan’s East Village, an area long known as “Little Ukraine.” The restaurant became a beacon of solidarity during the war.

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Restaurant owner Jason Birchard's grandfather founded Veselka after fleeing Russian oppression. On Thursday, Birchard expressed shock at the U.S.'s dramatic shift in support for Ukraine.

“It’s very disappointing and disheartening to see where we are and where we are in politics,” Birchard said. “I think it’s important for people to know the truth. It’s a shame that Trump has been a proponent of spreading lies. It’s sad that we’re at the three-year mark of a military conflict with so many casualties on both sides and no real sense of peace.”

He and his staff, many of whom are Ukrainian, are hoping for fair terms in any potential cease-fire or peace deal. Birchard hopes Ukraine will be invited to the negotiating table.

"I have always said that this should not be considered a war against Ukraine, it is a war against democracy. Ukrainians are very resilient and strong. They were like that before, and even more so now," Birchard concluded.

He is doing everything he can to "keep alive the hope and faith that Ukraine will prevail and restore its democracy in this terrible time."

Victor Kurylyk, a board member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Vladimir, has been active in the Ukrainian community in New York City since emigrating from western Ukraine 25 years ago.

Kurylik finds Trump's recent comments and the current situation "really troubling."

“We don’t know what will happen next,” Kurylyk noted. “But we are sure of one thing: the Ukrainians will not give up.”

“We hope that European countries will at least continue to support Ukraine,” he stressed.

During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Kurylyk observed “fierce debate” in the Ukrainian community. Some Ukrainian Americans voted for Trump.
Now, he says, he knows some of those voters who are angry and disappointed with Trump and who plan to attend anti-Trump, pro-Ukraine rallies this weekend in Washington, D.C.

“These are not American values, this is betrayal,” Kurylik concluded. “This is legitimizing Putin and sitting at the table with a war criminal.”

"What can we do"

The oceanfront neighborhood of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn is home to one of the world's largest communities of immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Andzhela Kravchenko, the Ukrainian-American Democratic Party district leader in the area, said Ukrainian-American residents feel angry and helpless after this week's events.

Trump, during the campaign, spoke of his opposition to the continued massive U.S. defense spending on Ukraine. He said he would conclude a peace deal “on Day One” of his second term. Many feared that such a deal would give Russia an advantage, but not one that was so aggressively and comprehensively anti-Ukrainian. Kyiv did not fall after the invasion, and Russia, although it retreated, now occupies about 20% of eastern and southeastern Ukraine.

“It feels like you’re being pressured from all sides,” Kravchenko noted.

She was "very disappointed" but not surprised by Trump's comments about Ukraine and its president.

“Ukraine did not start the war,” she said, calling Trump “Putin’s mouthpiece” who is promoting “the Kremlin’s version.”

Kravchenko remains committed to the fight for Ukraine's sovereignty and territory and said she will continue to work to keep hope alive for Ukraine.

She advises her worried constituents not to be upset, quite the opposite.

"Get organized! Let's brainstorm and figure out what we can do, what we should say, what we should take to the streets with," she told voters.

Protests in New York and other cities

One of the February 24 rallies was initiated by Svitanok NYC, a New York-based organization that advocates for Ukraine's sovereignty and combats disinformation.

Its president, 21-year-old Alexander Taran, described Trump's comments and the growing tensions as "very disturbing."

“Most Ukrainians are in a panic since they heard all this, because the United States is our main partner in this war,” said Taran, who moved to New York from Kyiv eight years ago.

"I think it's important for the new leadership and President Trump to do a proper assessment of the situation and establish the facts," he concluded.

Taran, like others, wants the war to end, but, he stressed, on "fair terms."

Like other democratic countries, Ukraine has internal political disputes, he said. But "when someone attacks a Ukrainian from outside, we stand together and unite for that Ukrainian."

"President Zelensky is a democratically elected leader of a country in a state of war. Regardless of our own domestic political problems, he represents our country and fights for the interests of Ukraine. We will support him," he assured.

The outcome of the war, as Taran said, has consequences for the world order.

"We are fighting for democratic ideals that must be respected in the world," he concluded. "And when someone violates this, when someone invades another country, it has consequences not only for Ukraine. It has global consequences."

Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid and support to Ukraine, urged people to contact their representatives in the U.S. The group wants to publicly challenge Trump's comments.

“It’s painful to see how inaccurate information is being spread by those who should know better and operate with facts,” said Dora Khomiak, CEO of Razom.

She was born in the United States to Ukrainian parents. Dora emphasized that Ukrainians have been fighting for democracy for generations.

Providing aid to Ukraine has become “almost a survival mechanism” for many during these times, she said.

Khomyak recently visited Ukraine and noted a range of public sentiments, from anxiety to optimism, as well as growing frustration with the United States.

Dora Khomyak assured that no matter what, she and her organization are committed to ensuring that Ukraine “remains a sovereign, secure democracy.”