The former president thinks he can end the war in Ukraine. In reality, he’s preparing to hand Russia a win — and the consequences will be profound

A buildup of Russian troops in Ukraine’s southeast comes as uncertainty looms over how a Trump presidency will affect the war.

Ukraine has many reasons to be concerned about a second Trump presidency. Trump has not said how he would end the war, or even under what conditions. In his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, in September,

Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election has been widely considered a potential disaster for Ukraine and its war efforts against Russia. Trump's scepticism about Nato and his apparent admiration for Vladimir Putin raised questions over whether he would maintain the level of support Joe Biden has so far given Kyiv,

And without vast new supplies of military aid and a free hand to use that aid effectively, most analysts believe Ukraine is likely to lose. Or at least be vulnerable to pressure to sign up to a peace deal that means giving up a great deal of territory as well as the freedom to make independent decisions about its security.