By Islam El-Sakka
Ukrainian Americans in Pennsylvania, a key swing state, are expressing outrage at President Donald Trump's recent foreign policy shifts, potentially jeopardizing Republican prospects in the November 3 midterm elections. At a gathering in Jenkintown, retiree Irene Skulsky urged fellow Ukrainian Americans to vote with "Ukraine in our hearts" after her son narrowly escaped a Russian missile strike in Kyiv. She blamed a U.S. decision to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine for the lack of warning.
Ukrainian Americans Turn Against Trump
Trump, who pledged during his 2024 campaign to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours, has recently struck a deal to buy nearly 5 million tonnes of diesel from Russian President Vladimir Putin, overriding U.S. sanctions. He has also called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's replacement, and his administration has been accused of restricting Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite internet. Zelenskyy said Ukraine received no advance U.S. warning of two recent Russian missile attack waves.
Eugene Luciw, a local representative of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, said foreign policy is the number one issue for Ukrainian Americans, estimating that more than 75% of those who previously supported Trump have now abandoned him. Peter and Orysia Hewuka, lifelong Republicans who voted for Trump three times, said they will likely vote for a local Democrat because of Ukraine. Mykola Hryckowian, director of the Center for US-Ukrainian Relations, called the diesel deal with Putin an "abomination."
Iran War and Tariffs Fuel Economic Anger
Beyond Ukraine, Trump's protracted war with Iran, launched with Israel in February, has closed the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global oil prices and U.S. gasoline and diesel costs. Polls show roughly 70% of voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the war, the economy, and inflation, according to a recent AP-Norc survey. Trump's global tariff regime has further increased costs for manufacturers and consumers, straining relations with allies including Canada. After bilateral trade talks collapsed in August, the U.S. imposed tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian imports, prompting retaliation. Even Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan urged Trump to end the trade war.
Trump's Diplomatic Approach Draws Criticism
Trump has dubbed his strategy the "Donroe doctrine," boasting of extracting Venezuelan oil and fantasizing about making Venezuela the "51st state." He has relied on negotiators with no foreign policy background, including real estate investor Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, for intricate matters like Iran, Gaza, and Ukraine. Witkoff recently praised Putin as a "humanitarian" after Russia released a U.S. citizen. Trump plans another meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month.
Republican Silence Alienates Base
Andrij Chornodolsky, chair of the Ukrainian American Senior Citizens Association, criticized Republican lawmakers for failing to challenge Trump. "Silence speaks very loudly. If you do nothing, you agree with the person making the pronouncements," he said. Pennsylvania has an estimated 105,000 to 122,000 residents of Ukrainian ancestry, the second-largest such population in the U.S. after New York.
Electoral Implications
Analysts suggest Trump's foreign policy could deliver an electoral whirlwind for Republicans on November 3. However, a Democrat-controlled Congress might push Trump to assert power abroad in his final two years, raising further international uncertainty.
