EU should dodge accountability for Ukraine support – member state
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has shared his views on the potential decision by President Donald Trump to reduce US support for Kiev. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has weighed in on the potential for President Donald Trump to halt US support for Ukraine.
Blanar contended that the European Union should not be solely responsible for financing Ukraine. His remarks were made on Friday, following Trump's recent comments about the US relationship with the EU during Joe Biden’s presidency.
During a press conference earlier this week, Trump criticized the EU for supposedly benefiting at the expense of the US. He stated that the bloc "should be paying a lot more than they’re paying," urging Brussels to "equalize" assistance while he explores options to resolve the conflict with Russia.
In an interview with the Slovak news agency TASR, Blanar advised EU nations to await Trump’s concrete proposals regarding the cessation of hostilities. He indicated that if the US withdraws its support for Ukraine, the EU should not have to shoulder the financial responsibilities alone.
“If some European Union countries decide to continue supporting Ukraine militarily, that’s up to them,” the minister noted. However, he emphasized that Slovakia opposes the notion that the EU as a whole should take on this burden.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a strong advocate for extensive arms and financial aid to Ukraine, countered Trump's assertions regarding the EU’s contributions. In a statement to Reuters on Wednesday, she observed that the union and its members have collectively supplied over €134 billion in aid, making it "the biggest international donor" to Ukraine.
Data from the Kiel Institute, a German think tank, indicated that European nations surpassed the US in aid commitments in 2023. As of October 2024, EU states and institutions had allocated €124.7 billion, contrasted with €88.3 billion from the US.
Slovakia is among the EU members that are hesitant to provide military aid to Ukraine. While Bratislava continues to offer humanitarian assistance, it has refrained from sending arms. Blanar remarked on Friday that "it’s always better to accept some kind of ceasefire and freeze the situation as it is because it could get worse."
Earlier this week, Kallas asserted that by supplying weapons to Ukraine, the EU was buying time to enhance its military posture against Russia, arguing that Moscow would eventually pose a threat to Western nations.
Officials in Moscow have consistently denied any aggressive intentions, labeling the ongoing conflict as a proxy war initiated by the US. They have accused Washington of sacrificing Ukrainian lives in an effort to weaken Russia economically and undermine its global standing.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
Blanar contended that the European Union should not be solely responsible for financing Ukraine. His remarks were made on Friday, following Trump's recent comments about the US relationship with the EU during Joe Biden’s presidency.
During a press conference earlier this week, Trump criticized the EU for supposedly benefiting at the expense of the US. He stated that the bloc "should be paying a lot more than they’re paying," urging Brussels to "equalize" assistance while he explores options to resolve the conflict with Russia.
In an interview with the Slovak news agency TASR, Blanar advised EU nations to await Trump’s concrete proposals regarding the cessation of hostilities. He indicated that if the US withdraws its support for Ukraine, the EU should not have to shoulder the financial responsibilities alone.
“If some European Union countries decide to continue supporting Ukraine militarily, that’s up to them,” the minister noted. However, he emphasized that Slovakia opposes the notion that the EU as a whole should take on this burden.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a strong advocate for extensive arms and financial aid to Ukraine, countered Trump's assertions regarding the EU’s contributions. In a statement to Reuters on Wednesday, she observed that the union and its members have collectively supplied over €134 billion in aid, making it "the biggest international donor" to Ukraine.
Data from the Kiel Institute, a German think tank, indicated that European nations surpassed the US in aid commitments in 2023. As of October 2024, EU states and institutions had allocated €124.7 billion, contrasted with €88.3 billion from the US.
Slovakia is among the EU members that are hesitant to provide military aid to Ukraine. While Bratislava continues to offer humanitarian assistance, it has refrained from sending arms. Blanar remarked on Friday that "it’s always better to accept some kind of ceasefire and freeze the situation as it is because it could get worse."
Earlier this week, Kallas asserted that by supplying weapons to Ukraine, the EU was buying time to enhance its military posture against Russia, arguing that Moscow would eventually pose a threat to Western nations.
Officials in Moscow have consistently denied any aggressive intentions, labeling the ongoing conflict as a proxy war initiated by the US. They have accused Washington of sacrificing Ukrainian lives in an effort to weaken Russia economically and undermine its global standing.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
