Kathmandu— Parts of the American MAGA right and several European far-right parties are aligning with pro-Russian stances, even as Russia invades Ukraine. This shift is evident in recent actions by figures like former President Donald Trump and JD Vance, who have taken positions that weaken traditional American support for containing Russian aggression in Europe. Meanwhile, NATO allies continue to provide military aid to Ukraine, but the ideological realignment on the Western right complicates this support.

Trump's Policy Shift

In early 2025, Trump dramatically departed from previous US policy towards Ukraine by attacking President Zelenskyy and opening negotiations with Moscow without involving Ukraine or European allies. He temporarily suspended American military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. More recently, at the July 2026 NATO summit, Trump announced that the US would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot interceptors—a concession that confused his pro-Russian image.

European Far-Right Alignments

JD Vance's Munich Security Conference speech in 2025 highlighted this shift. He downplayed Russian aggression and focused on internal European threats, which many found extraordinary given the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The German far-right party AfD has also aligned with pro-Russian positions, opposing Western sanctions and advocating for resumed imports of Russian oil and gas.

Impact on NATO Allies

Despite these shifts, NATO allies like Britain, France, Germany, Poland, and the Nordic countries continue to support Ukraine. Denmark announced its thirtieth military-support package in June 2026, while Norway committed another $9.2 billion for 2027. However, the ideological realignment on the Western right complicates this support, as nationalist movements find common ground in opposing further arming of Kyiv.

Ukraine's Ongoing Crisis

The war continues to devastate Ukraine, with Russian forces using new Banderol cruise missiles against Odesa’s ports. Ukrainian officials report that these weapons have been involved in roughly 80% of recent strikes on the area’s port infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukrainian intelligence says Russia is preparing additional mobilization waves targeting 300,000 recruits each year until 2027.

(With inputs from CounterPunch)

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Originally published on abcnews.com.np.