April 30, 2024
The U.S. should stop providing aid to Ukraine “unless Europe starts equalizing,” presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said in an interview with Time published on April 30.
Trump has said he would not commit to providing Ukraine with defense assistance if he won the 2024 election and his sway over the Republican party contributed to the six-month deadlock of the $61 billion in U.S. aid for Ukraine.
“If Europe is not going to pay, why should we pay? They’re much more greatly affected. We have an ocean in between us. They don’t,” Trump told Time.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the U.S. has provided more aid to Ukraine than any other country. Washington’s support to Ukraine is worth over $67 billion, $43 billion of which is military aid.
Europe has allocated over $96 billion for military, humanitarian, and financial support, according to the Ukraine Support Tracker of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Between the summer of 2023 and spring of 2024, Europe’s aid allocations “consistently exceeded those of the US,” the Kiel Institute notes.
The Time interview also addressed Trump’s attitude toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked why he has not called for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who remains imprisoned in Moscow.
“I guess because I have so many other things I’m working on,” Trump said, adding that if elected, “I would get him released.”
Trump also declined to say whether he would aid Taiwan in case of an invasion by China, but said that Beijing has to “understand that things like that can’t come easy.”
https://kyivindependent.com/trump-europe-equalizing
That’s bad news, since the stooges in Europe simply can’t get their act together.
Wrong, Mr. Ofp, please consult the Ukraine support tracker:
Europe 89.6 billions, US 67.1 billions. That’s the real balance, what Trump says is bullshit, as usual! 🙄
https://www.ifw-kiel.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker
I mean military aid, Mr. Gray. When did Czechia find those 800,000 rounds of ammo? Where is it after several months? Europe can’t even get this situation solved in a reasonable amount of time. I know that we sent nothing for 6 months, but look how quickly we act once the funds are freed up. This war is much closer to you than to us, yet Europe acts as if it was the other way around.
Did Trump go to the russian school of mathematics? Since when has $67 billion been more than $96 billion?
So, Europe must send less aid to Ukraine?
Don’t give them any ideas.
I think the buffoon meant military aid.
Still doesn’t make sense. Ukraine can and does buy weapons from the EU’s financial support. Actually, the country could produce even more if only the government could pay for it! 🤨
Europe, as a continent with a very powerful combined economy and a half a billion people, could do a lot more, but for some reason, isn’t.
Excuse me please, my friend, Europe is already contributing about 50% more than the US, the numbers prove! Despite its economy actually being weaker than the US’ one (we still have a lot of states here that haven’t caught up with the North yet). Sure, we could and should do more. But that’s no excuse for the US. We all actively supported the US after 9/11, in the only Nato defence case ever, it’s not too much to ask for a return of the favor. This is also in America’s very own interest, after all. Please don’t lend support for Trump’s wrongheaded Eurobashing. 🤨
I took note of your protest, Mr. Gray.
I know this viewpoint will not be popular on here, but it seems to me that all Trump is doing is to try to goad Europe into doing more to support Ukraine both now and in the future. In his “Art of the Deal” he explains that you always start a negotiation with “the big ask” – something way beyond what is reasonable or even what you hope the negotiation will achieve. It seems to me that is what he may be doing here.
Perhaps not, but I think we can all agree Western Europe needs to stop verbally posturing and morally preening and actually deliver what they promise and step up and send even more military support to Ukraine now.
The problem is Trump has been all over the map. If he is trying to get Europe to pony up, he should be consistent about his language and thrust. He hasn’t been, so Trump is a huge question mark.
I have nothing against goading Europe to do more. As a matter of fact, it’s essential to do so, since too much depends on it. And, many pretend this war is on the other side of the globe instead of right next door.
Economically, Italy’s economy alone is bigger than Russia’s. Its obvious that Europe should be doing much much more to support Ukraine than it has been doing in the past two years.
This is called campaigning. I like Fed Up’s take – goading Europe to do more is a good thing.