As tensions rose in the Ukraine conflict just weeks before Donald Trump's inauguration, the situation became increasingly volatile. Ukraine's military actions extended into the Russian Kursk region, prompting a military alliance with North Korea and major shifts in U.S. policy under the Biden administration, including permission for Ukraine to use American-made missiles for deeper strikes into Russia. In response, Russia revised its nuclear strategy, heightening global risks. Both nations are now navigating complex negotiation dynamics amid ongoing territorial struggles, foreshadowing a challenging new phase in U.S.-Ukraine relations under Trump's presidency.