Member State Suggests EU Should Not Be Solely Responsible for Ukraine Aid
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has shared his thoughts on the potential for President Donald Trump to reduce US support for Kiev. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has addressed the potential impact of President Donald Trump's decision to cut U.S. support for Ukraine.
Blanar contended on Friday that the responsibility for funding Ukraine should not lie solely with the European Union, particularly in light of Trump's possible withdrawal of assistance.
During a recent press conference, Trump criticized the EU for what he perceives as their exploitation of U.S. resources throughout Joe Biden’s administration. He asserted that the economic bloc "should be paying a lot more than they’re paying" and urged Brussels to “equalize” assistance while he looks for ways to resolve the conflict with Russia.
In an interview with the Slovak news agency TASR, Blanar suggested that EU members should wait for more comprehensive plans from Trump regarding the cessation of hostilities. He noted that if the U.S. were to withdraw its support, it should not become the sole financial supporter of Ukraine.
“If some European Union countries decide to continue supporting Ukraine militarily, that’s up to them,” the minister remarked. However, he emphasized that Slovakia does not believe the EU as an entity should assume that responsibility.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a strong advocate for extensive arms and financial support for Ukraine, countered Trump’s assertions about the EU's contributions. In a statement to Reuters, she highlighted that the union and its member states have collectively provided over €134 billion in aid, making it "the biggest international donor" to Ukraine.
The Kiel Institute, a German think tank, noted that EU countries surpassed the U.S. in aid pledges in 2023. Their data indicates that by October 2024, EU state and institutional allocations reached €124.7 billion, in contrast to the U.S.'s €88.3 billion.
Slovakia stands among the EU nations that resist ongoing military aid to Ukraine. While Bratislava offers humanitarian assistance, it has refrained from supplying weapons. Blanar stated 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.”
Kallas had argued earlier in the week that by supplying arms to Ukraine, the EU is effectively gaining time for a military build-up against Russia, suggesting that Moscow would inevitably target Western nations.
Moscow officials have consistently denied any aggressive intentions, labeling the current conflict as a proxy war initiated by the U.S. and accusing Washington of sacrificing Ukrainian lives to weaken Russia’s economy and reduce its global standing.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Blanar contended on Friday that the responsibility for funding Ukraine should not lie solely with the European Union, particularly in light of Trump's possible withdrawal of assistance.
During a recent press conference, Trump criticized the EU for what he perceives as their exploitation of U.S. resources throughout Joe Biden’s administration. He asserted that the economic bloc "should be paying a lot more than they’re paying" and urged Brussels to “equalize” assistance while he looks for ways to resolve the conflict with Russia.
In an interview with the Slovak news agency TASR, Blanar suggested that EU members should wait for more comprehensive plans from Trump regarding the cessation of hostilities. He noted that if the U.S. were to withdraw its support, it should not become the sole financial supporter of Ukraine.
“If some European Union countries decide to continue supporting Ukraine militarily, that’s up to them,” the minister remarked. However, he emphasized that Slovakia does not believe the EU as an entity should assume that responsibility.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a strong advocate for extensive arms and financial support for Ukraine, countered Trump’s assertions about the EU's contributions. In a statement to Reuters, she highlighted that the union and its member states have collectively provided over €134 billion in aid, making it "the biggest international donor" to Ukraine.
The Kiel Institute, a German think tank, noted that EU countries surpassed the U.S. in aid pledges in 2023. Their data indicates that by October 2024, EU state and institutional allocations reached €124.7 billion, in contrast to the U.S.'s €88.3 billion.
Slovakia stands among the EU nations that resist ongoing military aid to Ukraine. While Bratislava offers humanitarian assistance, it has refrained from supplying weapons. Blanar stated 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.”
Kallas had argued earlier in the week that by supplying arms to Ukraine, the EU is effectively gaining time for a military build-up against Russia, suggesting that Moscow would inevitably target Western nations.
Moscow officials have consistently denied any aggressive intentions, labeling the current conflict as a proxy war initiated by the U.S. and accusing Washington of sacrificing Ukrainian lives to weaken Russia’s economy and reduce its global standing.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
