Ukraine Crippled After Trump Showdown? Troops, Armor, and U.S. Support Lost in One Day

New Delhi: Ukraine lost over 220 troops on the battlefield on the same day President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s tense meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House ended in a fiery breakdown.  

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Ukrainian forces suffered major losses in the Kursk region, with 11 armored vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and seven artillery units destroyed. The Russian army also wiped out a drone control center, an ammunition depot, and an armored personnel carrier, Russian news agency Tass reported.  

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The battlefield setback underscores Ukraine’s struggle to recruit soldiers, a point raised by U.S. Vice President JD Vance during the talks. Zelenskyy’s remark that “even you will feel it in the future” irked Trump, sparking a heated exchange that led to the *cancellation of a press conference and a minerals deal falling apart.  

Following the fallout, Trump accused Zelenskyy of “disrespecting” the U.S. and claimed the Ukrainian leader was “not ready for peace”. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “He disrespected the United States in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.” 

Also Read: Zelenskyy Flip-Flops: From ‘Ukraine Must Never Be Forgotten’ to ‘Thank You, US’

The war, which began in February 2022, has led to massive casualties on both sides. Ukraine has reported 45,100 soldiers killed and 390,000 wounded, while estimates suggest at least 172,000 Russian troops have died, with 611,000 wounded.  

Trump has long claimed that if he had been in office, he war would never have started and has vowed to end it if re-elected. With Ukraine facing mounting battlefield losses and strained ties with the U.S., the future of Western support remains uncertain.