The impending return of former President Donald Trump to the White House has set off a wave of worry among members of New Jersey’s Ukrainian community, which fears losing the U.S. as a strong ally in the war with Russia.
If there was a sliver of optimism after Trump’s victory in Tuesday’s election, it was in hopes that a change in Washington could unlock an end to the grinding conflict that has become Europe’s largest and deadliest since World War II.
Throughout Ukraine, “there are sirens and the reality of violence every day,” said Oksana Condon, of Jersey City, who has friends and family living in Ukraine. “People live in fear of drone strikes in their area. They are constantly on high alert and living with tremendous fear and anxiety for themselves and the soldiers protecting their country.”
More than 6.7 million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, according to the United Nations. Deaths and injuries on both sides have reached about 1 million, the Wall Street Journal reported in September, citing intelligence officials and other sources.
Where does Trump stand on Ukraine war?
The Biden administration pumped billions of dollars in military support into Ukraine over the last 2½ years. But future U.S. aid for Ukraine is in doubt after Trump’s victory. The former president has a history of flattering statements about Russian President Vladimir Putin and would not say during a September presidential debate whether he wants Ukraine to win the war.
“I want the war to stop,” said Trump, who has vowed he will end the fighting before his Jan. 20 inauguration but provided no details how.
New Jersey has one of the country’s largest Ukrainian American populations, with about 67,000 residents. Like many in the community, Condon said she was trying to remain optimistic.
“There is so much turmoil everywhere,” said Codon, the president of Ukrainian Jersey City, a nonprofit that sends humanitarian supplies to the war zone. “I really hope the United States’ strong leadership will reduce conflict in the Ukraine and elsewhere.”
“I believe that the new Trump administration will recognize the importance of preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty,” she said. “Everyone wants to stop the bloodshed and I hope our leaders will be wise in implementing a plan to do so that preserves our distinct culture and vibrant democracy.”
Others were more dour.
‘We are being sold out’
“We were disappointed,” said Jerry Kuzemczak, of Morris Plains. “I think Trump will be horrible not just for Ukraine but for Eastern Europe. He will try to make a deal with Putin for the sake of making a deal. He’s not a politician that understands the long-term effects of his actions.”
Trump may be able to end the war, but it won’t be a deal that benefits anyone, he said. “He will sell out Ukraine. He will stop the military aid. That will just encourage Putin.”
Kuzemczak, an attorney who visited Europe during the election, said Tuesday’s results left him frightened.
“Thousands of people in Ukraine died and for what? If they are forced to give up land in the end, then what did they waste their blood for? We are being sold out.”
Yuriy Boyechko, executive director of Roseland-based Hope for Ukraine, a nonprofit that provides food, shelter and other support for Ukrainian children and refugees, said the U.S. is at a crossroads.
“Harris would have been more of the same,” he said. “The only way toward peace and democracy is if the U.S. plays a strong and decisive role. We cannot be isolationist. Otherwise, the world will respond with the kind of chaos that we haven’t seen since World War II. I’m looking at Trump now with cautious optimism that he will make the right choice.”
Zelenskyy sends a message
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he had spoken with Trump and praised him for his victory. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Zelenskyy said that he welcomed Trump’s election and looked forward to an “era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership.”
“We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation,” the Ukrainian president added. “Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.”
Putin also sent praise for Trump from Moscow and announced that he was prepared to dialogue with him about the war. Reuters, meanwhile, reported Wednesday that the White House plans to rush billions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine before President Joe Biden leaves office in January, hoping to shore up the government in Kyiv before Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.
Anatoliy Sakhan, pastor at Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Vineland, said he hopes Trump will end the war once and for all. “Ukraine is exhausting its resources, millions of refugees left Ukraine and the help we have been receiving from the U.S. and the European countries isn’t sufficient to help us win,” he said. “Our hope and our prayer is that Trump will negotiate to end this war.”
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Can Trump achieve ‘peace through strength?’
“I am afraid that Trump will favor Russia in any negotiations, but if the war continues without sufficient help from the western countries Ukraine will be in very difficult situation,” he added. “Ukraine doesn’t have enough resources to continue this war on its own.”
“This war needs to be stopped collectively with help from all democratic countries. In my view the most important goals are to keep Ukraine as a sovereign country, stop this war and help Ukrainians to rebuild.”
The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, which represents 2 million Americans of Ukrainian descent, released a statement congratulating the president-elect on his victory. “In acknowledging President Trump’s longstanding commitment to a ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs, UCCA joins with President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian nation in achieving a sustainable victory in Ukraine.”
“As Americans, we believe that a democratic, independent and sovereign Ukraine is in the national security interest of the United States.”
Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: yellin@northjersey.comX/Twitter: @deenayellin
