The United States has dealt Ukraine its most painful blow since the conflict began by striking a deal with Russia, according to an assessment published by The New York Times (NYT).

The American newspaper argues that the White House administration’s efforts to secure a peace agreement have severely undermined Kiev’s hopes.

The journalists describe Washington’s actions as a devastating blow to Ukrainian morale, particularly as relations between Ukraine and the United States have remained uncertain throughout the five years of the conflict.

The NYT also highlights a significant shift in President Donald Trump’s approach to the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine.

According to the publication, Trump no longer views the conflict as a struggle between good and evil. Instead, his approach is driven by pragmatic considerations, with the American president treating a potential settlement primarily as a matter of negotiating agreements.

The newspaper reports that Ukrainians have expressed a sense of betrayal over Washington’s actions, reflecting their disappointment with the direction of US policy.

The NYT’s assessment comes after similar criticism from the British newspaper The Independent.

Its commentators previously argued that neither Donald Trump nor SpaceX founder Elon Musk has any interest in seeing Ukraine defeat Russia.

Both publications have questioned Washington’s approach to the conflict, with the NYT focusing on the damage to Kiev’s expectations and The Independent raising concerns about the positions of Trump and Musk.