Sergei

But they didn't think much of it except for the fact that Trump was a showman and that this was all part of his act. But even so, that didn't stop them from wondering, what in the world might he mean? Same thing happened a few days after Trump won the election in November. Joe Biden approved Ukraine's use of long-range missiles. The soldiers were excited. They'd been waiting for this for years.

But they didn't think much of it except for the fact that Trump was a showman and that this was all part of his act. But even so, that didn't stop them from wondering, what in the world might he mean? Same thing happened a few days after Trump won the election in November. Joe Biden approved Ukraine's use of long-range missiles. The soldiers were excited. They'd been waiting for this for years.

But then, Donald Trump said that he thought launching long-range missiles into Russia was actually a big mistake. One soldier told me that he was on the front line, just finished shooting mortars, when he heard what Trump had said. And he looked at his crew like, what? What does this actually mean for us? Will they actually take away the approval they'd just given us?

But then, Donald Trump said that he thought launching long-range missiles into Russia was actually a big mistake. One soldier told me that he was on the front line, just finished shooting mortars, when he heard what Trump had said. And he looked at his crew like, what? What does this actually mean for us? Will they actually take away the approval they'd just given us?

Another soldier who told me about trying to read the tea leaves of American politics is Vitaly, a drone operator. He's from a region of Ukraine that's been in the fight against Russian occupation since 2014. Vitaly's been fighting this war on and off since he was 24. As a drone operator, he spends hours sitting in a bunker watching monitors. He's got two screens in front of him.

Another soldier who told me about trying to read the tea leaves of American politics is Vitaly, a drone operator. He's from a region of Ukraine that's been in the fight against Russian occupation since 2014. Vitaly's been fighting this war on and off since he was 24. As a drone operator, he spends hours sitting in a bunker watching monitors. He's got two screens in front of him.

One is a live feed surveillance of the front line. And the other, his phone. Social media, group chats, the news. One right next to the other.

One is a live feed surveillance of the front line. And the other, his phone. Social media, group chats, the news. One right next to the other.

They talk about how Trump, the candidate, could be against funding for Ukraine. But Trump, the president, might not be.

They talk about how Trump, the candidate, could be against funding for Ukraine. But Trump, the president, might not be.

Vitaly told me he actually finds this last scenario pretty convincing. Other times, he's less optimistic.

Vitaly told me he actually finds this last scenario pretty convincing. Other times, he's less optimistic.

Elon Musk has said there's no way that Putin will lose. And he pitched a Ukraine quote-unquote peace plan on X, which would cede Crimea to Russia.

Elon Musk has said there's no way that Putin will lose. And he pitched a Ukraine quote-unquote peace plan on X, which would cede Crimea to Russia.

Trump's victory has cracked open a space for conversations that were once totally off-limits. I heard about a moment like that from Artem, a soldier with a big personality. Artem is a volunteer fighter in a unit that calls themselves Peaky Blinders. He helps prepare ammunition for drones. He calls himself the Candy Maker. Artem's a big believer that the war is nowhere near ending.

Trump's victory has cracked open a space for conversations that were once totally off-limits. I heard about a moment like that from Artem, a soldier with a big personality. Artem is a volunteer fighter in a unit that calls themselves Peaky Blinders. He helps prepare ammunition for drones. He calls himself the Candy Maker. Artem's a big believer that the war is nowhere near ending.

Trump or no Trump, funding or no funding. But a few weeks ago, Artem went out with his commander, Zeliznyak, and another guy in his unit.

Trump or no Trump, funding or no funding. But a few weeks ago, Artem went out with his commander, Zeliznyak, and another guy in his unit.

Chizh is a soldier in RTEN's unit.

Chizh is a soldier in RTEN's unit.