The idea that Ukraine “became a U.S. colony” is false. While there are debates about U.S. and Ukraine relations and American support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, there is no evidence that the United States has colonized Ukraine or turned it into a political dependency in the way a colony is historically defined. Ukraine is a sovereign nation that makes its own policy decisions, even as it accepts foreign aid and military assistance; international relations scholars describe U.S. involvement as strategic partnership and support, not colonial control.
Reliable research on foreign policy and international relations distinguishes between alliances or support and colonial domination, the latter involves direct political and territorial control, which is not the case in Ukraine. The United States provides military aid, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing to Ukraine’s government amid Russia’s invasion, but Ukraine remains an independent state with its own elected leaders and agency over its domestic and foreign policies. Claims likening this to colonialism are speculative or ideological interpretations rather than supported by credible historical or political evidence.
Are Ukraine and the U.S. Allies or Not? | Wilson Center
Exploring Ukraine’s Armed Neutrality or Nonalignment: Legal and Policy Considerations | Lawfare