Ukraine is holding its own on the battlefield and signing major defense deals with European countries and the Gulf states. And through it all, the United States has become “a little less relevant” for Ukraine. That’s the assessment of David Kramer — executive director of the George W. Bush Institute and a former U.S. assistant secretary of state — in a wide-ranging interview with Independence Avenue Media. Kramer argues that as direct U.S. military support for Ukraine has wound down, Kyiv has adjusted. And in doing so, it has built a network of partnerships that no longer runs through Washington.
Beyond the question of Ukraine’s adjustments, Kramer warns that Russia is increasingly siding with America’s adversaries, citing credible reports that Moscow has provided Iran with intelligence and drone components used to target U.S. forces in the Middle East. He also discusses why he believes Putin remains uninterested in serious peace talks and why a weakened U.S. commitment to NATO could embolden Russia to test the alliance — potentially in the Baltics.
