Ukrainians are completely “baffled” by US President Donald Trump’s flip-flopping stance on ending the war, an aid volunteer has revealed to the Express. In the last 12 months, Peter White, 70, has bought and driven three ambulances from the West Midlands to war-torn Ukraine to help the plight of its missile-battered families and children.
The first ‘ambulance’ was destroyed by a Russian missile; the second is transporting cerebral palsy orphans in Dnipro, while the third is in Chernivtsi – destined for either Kiev or Odessa. Now he’s given us a fascinating insight into what Ukrainians think of US President Donald Trump, Russian invader Vladimir Putin and their own leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In February, angry Ukrainians claimed President Trump and Vice President JD Vance “ambushed” their leader on his Oval Office visit, where Trump accused stunned Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three”.
Explaining how Ukrainians view Trump as he repeatedly switches between criticising Ukraine and then berating Putin, Peter told us how, when helping teach students at Chernivtsi University, the subject would come round to Trump.
He told us: “I was teaching them for a period, trying to explain Trump to them and why America now seems to hate Europe so much – it was a pretty complex task!
“Ukrainians are baffled by Trump’s behaviour as much as they’re baffled by Putin’s behaviour, as a fellow Slavic nation who has turned against them.
“Because there are strong links, traditional links, between Russia and Ukraine. About a third of the population of Russia itself has links with Ukraine.
“And the residents, the people I spoke to, didn’t really understand why Russia should have turned against them so viciously. They’re still bewildered on that fact.”
Describing his last trip to Ukraine, he said he visited Kyiv during the biggest bombardment of the war.
He said: “It was horrendous. In the early hours of the morning, too. There’s natural fatigue on the part of the Ukrainians. They don’t see an end to it. It’s a constant weight on their minds.
“The war has dragged on for three years with no visible end to it, and the price that the young men are having to pay.
“There’s evidence all around you of the war. Mainly, the absence of men of a certain age, the presence of many amputees and a general degradation of the infrastructure.
“In the city of Chernivtsi, where the relief operations are mainly based, they have a trainload of wounded arriving every week, and they’re pumped out to various hospitals.
“You’re forever hearing of casualties, and the cities come to a stop whenever the funerals of the young soldiers pass by. And that’s almost a daily occurrence.”
And the people’s view of their President Volodymyr Zelensky?
Earlier this year Trump branded him “a dictator” over a lack of fresh elections, adding: “I love Ukraine, but Zelensky has done a terrible job, his country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died.”
Peter explained: “Ukrainians have a very healthy, natural scepticism about any politician! But that’s a sign of a good democracy if they can be vocal about him sometimes.
“I don’t think the constitution allows them actually to have an election either during the period of warfare. So he could very well excuse himself on that basis.
“He’s announced that he is prepared to stand down as soon as there’s a peaceful solution to the conundrum.”
In November 2024, Peter had been so moved by Ukraine’s fight that he bought a second-hand blue VW Caravelle and contacted Bournemouth-based charity Ukraine Relief, offering to ferry their donated medical supplies over to Dnipro for them.
He told us: “I thought with the injustice of the invasion of Ukraine, I would take out a vehicle for the disabled with a ramp at the back. That was put into operation over there but ended up being hit by a missile.
“They needed bandages, gels, sutures and even spare parts for an X-ray machine – all dealing with the problem the surgeons face with shrapnel wounds among civilians and soldiers.”
Realising the people of Ukraine desperately needed more help and supplies he bought a second ambulance – this time a Nissan Elgrand people carrier which in February he loaded with more Ukraine Relief supplies and drove solo to Dnipro.
He said: “That one’s been donated to a home in Dnipro to children, victims of cerebral palsy in an orphanage there and they’re using it for sort of travel adventures and outings.”
Last month he returned from taking ambulance number three, a white Land Rover Discovery, which is in Chernivtsi – and has a fourth ambulance, another Land Rover, prepping as we speak for a pre-Christmas trip.
Explaining his passion to help strangers, the devout Catholic said: “It’s the people themselves. They’re absolutely incredible. They’re up against it and I feel for them greatly.
“The women and children are beautiful souls and the men are gallant, determined and courageous – as soon as you meet them, you feel protective of them. You feel you can’t turn your back on them.”
* To donate to charity Ukraine Relief to help them outfit and buy emergency vehicles and medical supplies visit – https://www.ukrainerelief.org.uk/
