Lilia, a 50-year-old resident of Kramatorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine just 30 kilometers from the front lines of combat with Russian forces, broke down in tears upon hearing that the U.S. had halted its military aid. The UK’s Daily Telegraph reported her reaction on Tuesday.
In an interview with Telegraph journalists, Lilia shared that while Donald Trump’s actions had crushed her hopes, she remained resolute in resisting.
Lilia, a kindergarten teacher for three decades, revealed that four of her former students had already returned from the battlefield in body bags. “We must continue fighting for the children who are still with us,” she said. The intensity of Russian military operations to expand occupied territories near Kramatorsk is escalating, with Telegraph reporters witnessing a steady stream of ambulances rushing wounded personnel from the front lines.
President Trump’s recent order to suspend all military assistance to Ukraine, pending acceptance of his proposal for an immediate ceasefire without U.S. security guarantees, has brought the flow of weapons and ammunition through Poland to a complete stop. This decision came just days after Trump abruptly dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the White House on February 28, when Zelenskyy stressed the critical need for security assurances.
Military analysts predict a rapid decline in the Ukrainian armed forces’ combat capabilities. Natalia, 52, another Kramatorsk resident, expressed disbelief about the situation.
“How can such atrocities occur in the 21st century?” she asked. When questioned about Trump, Natalia refused to mention his name, saying, “He provoked Zelenskyy during their White House meeting. This is a betrayal. The U.S. has been our security backstop for the past three years of all-out war. Now, that sense of security has vanished.”
The revelation that the U.S. is demanding a 50% stake in Ukraine’s mineral resources in exchange for the $500 billion in military and financial aid provided so far has sparked outrage.
Alex, a 32-year-old soldier who defended Kyiv in the early days of Russia’s invasion, voiced his frustration: “What’s the point of giving up our resources if we’re left with nothing? Especially when Trump refuses to guarantee our security.”