Media reports suggest EU stance on Ukraine may depend on US election outcomes
A senior official has reportedly stated that the bloc is awaiting the results of the US elections to decide the future of American aid to Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The bloc is awaiting the outcome of the upcoming US presidential election before deciding on its stance regarding aid to Ukraine, as reported by Deutsche Welle, citing an anonymous senior EU official.
Brussels is "holding its breath," anticipating the election results for clarity on the incoming administration's approach to military support for Ukraine. This information was shared by the official with journalists in Brussels, who wished to remain unidentified. They indicated that once the election concludes, the EU will be better positioned to establish its own policy.
If Republican candidate Donald Trump emerges victorious and follows through on his previous commitments to reduce US assistance to Kiev, the EU's strategy will, according to the official, "remain the same – to support Ukraine." However, they added that the question remains whether all 27 EU member states will adhere to this approach, implicitly referencing Hungary and its past vetoes regarding EU aid for Ukraine, as noted by DW.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has consistently been a dissenting voice within the EU concerning unconditional backing for Kiev. Earlier this year, he lifted his veto on a substantial €50 billion EU aid package for Ukraine, after claiming to have faced "blackmail" from the other 26 EU members.
Orban remarked earlier this week that this year's American elections hold significant importance for EU-US relations, stating, "In all major strategic issues, Europe has not had an independent foreign policy; it has always been in line with the position of the United States." He asserted that this alignment has led the EU to become "involved in the war in Ukraine, experiencing an energy crisis and a decline in competitiveness," concluding that "Europe has failed to defend its interests."
According to Orban, the US election may trigger considerable changes that could "allow the EU to stand more firmly on [its] interests."
The issue of ongoing US aid to Ukraine has been a central topic in a highly contentious election cycle. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could resolve the Ukraine conflict in a day by facilitating peace talks between Moscow and Kiev. In contrast, his Democratic adversary, current US Vice President Kamala Harris, has vowed to maintain incumbent Joe Biden's approach, stating she would "stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies."
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Brussels is "holding its breath," anticipating the election results for clarity on the incoming administration's approach to military support for Ukraine. This information was shared by the official with journalists in Brussels, who wished to remain unidentified. They indicated that once the election concludes, the EU will be better positioned to establish its own policy.
If Republican candidate Donald Trump emerges victorious and follows through on his previous commitments to reduce US assistance to Kiev, the EU's strategy will, according to the official, "remain the same – to support Ukraine." However, they added that the question remains whether all 27 EU member states will adhere to this approach, implicitly referencing Hungary and its past vetoes regarding EU aid for Ukraine, as noted by DW.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has consistently been a dissenting voice within the EU concerning unconditional backing for Kiev. Earlier this year, he lifted his veto on a substantial €50 billion EU aid package for Ukraine, after claiming to have faced "blackmail" from the other 26 EU members.
Orban remarked earlier this week that this year's American elections hold significant importance for EU-US relations, stating, "In all major strategic issues, Europe has not had an independent foreign policy; it has always been in line with the position of the United States." He asserted that this alignment has led the EU to become "involved in the war in Ukraine, experiencing an energy crisis and a decline in competitiveness," concluding that "Europe has failed to defend its interests."
According to Orban, the US election may trigger considerable changes that could "allow the EU to stand more firmly on [its] interests."
The issue of ongoing US aid to Ukraine has been a central topic in a highly contentious election cycle. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could resolve the Ukraine conflict in a day by facilitating peace talks between Moscow and Kiev. In contrast, his Democratic adversary, current US Vice President Kamala Harris, has vowed to maintain incumbent Joe Biden's approach, stating she would "stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies."
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
