Ukrainians Fear Trump Might Pull US Support – FT
Kiev is apprehensive that Donald Trump may halt financial support, according to a report by the Financial Times. Read the full article on RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ukrainian officials are expressing cautious optimism about Donald Trump’s election victory, but concerns about the future of American aid persist in Kiev, according to a report by the Financial Times.
Trump has consistently claimed that Ukraine cannot achieve military success against Russia and has referred to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky as “the greatest salesman in history.” He has also suggested that he may cut financial support for Kiev.
While key Ukrainian officials seem hopeful, Zelensky offered congratulations to Trump on his “impressive election victory” and expressed faith in his leadership. He stated, “We look forward to an era of a strong United States under President Trump’s decisive leadership,” suggesting that the Republican’s policies might help “bring just peace in Ukraine closer.”
Zelensky mentioned a meeting with Trump in September in New York, hoping that the president-elect would back his “victory plan” against Russia, which requests increased US assistance, a request that could face challenges based on Trump’s views.
David Arakhamia, the head of the ruling parliamentary faction Servant of the People, acknowledged possible obstacles but suggested that Trump’s victory could create a “new dynamic” in US-Ukraine relations.
Similarly, Olga Stefanishina, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European integration, expressed the belief that Trump could “definitely organize more political momentum in Kiev’s favor.”
However, the perspective from Ukraine’s military is more grim, with an anonymous defense official indicating that many armed forces members worry about the implications of losing US support, which they fear would leave Ukraine open to Russian advances, particularly in Donbass. “For us, support [from the United States] means life or death,” another military source expressed, highlighting deep concerns about Trump’s potential reluctance to continue aid.
Given Trump’s previous comments, his approach to the situation could substantially differ from that of outgoing President Joe Biden. Impeached in 2019 after allegations he pressured Zelensky to investigate Biden and his son, Trump has made statements indicating he could end the conflict within “24 hours,” asserting he “knows [Zelensky] very well and knows [Russian President Vladimir] Putin even better.”
In discussing his strategy for resolving the conflict, Trump stated on Fox News, “I would tell Zelensky, ‘no more’. You got to make a deal,” suggesting he might use aid as leverage to incentivize negotiations with Putin.
The concerns from Ukraine’s military arise after years of significant backing from the Biden administration, which has provided billions in defense and economic support, a situation that some in Moscow have characterized as a “proxy war.”
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
Trump has consistently claimed that Ukraine cannot achieve military success against Russia and has referred to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky as “the greatest salesman in history.” He has also suggested that he may cut financial support for Kiev.
While key Ukrainian officials seem hopeful, Zelensky offered congratulations to Trump on his “impressive election victory” and expressed faith in his leadership. He stated, “We look forward to an era of a strong United States under President Trump’s decisive leadership,” suggesting that the Republican’s policies might help “bring just peace in Ukraine closer.”
Zelensky mentioned a meeting with Trump in September in New York, hoping that the president-elect would back his “victory plan” against Russia, which requests increased US assistance, a request that could face challenges based on Trump’s views.
David Arakhamia, the head of the ruling parliamentary faction Servant of the People, acknowledged possible obstacles but suggested that Trump’s victory could create a “new dynamic” in US-Ukraine relations.
Similarly, Olga Stefanishina, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European integration, expressed the belief that Trump could “definitely organize more political momentum in Kiev’s favor.”
However, the perspective from Ukraine’s military is more grim, with an anonymous defense official indicating that many armed forces members worry about the implications of losing US support, which they fear would leave Ukraine open to Russian advances, particularly in Donbass. “For us, support [from the United States] means life or death,” another military source expressed, highlighting deep concerns about Trump’s potential reluctance to continue aid.
Given Trump’s previous comments, his approach to the situation could substantially differ from that of outgoing President Joe Biden. Impeached in 2019 after allegations he pressured Zelensky to investigate Biden and his son, Trump has made statements indicating he could end the conflict within “24 hours,” asserting he “knows [Zelensky] very well and knows [Russian President Vladimir] Putin even better.”
In discussing his strategy for resolving the conflict, Trump stated on Fox News, “I would tell Zelensky, ‘no more’. You got to make a deal,” suggesting he might use aid as leverage to incentivize negotiations with Putin.
The concerns from Ukraine’s military arise after years of significant backing from the Biden administration, which has provided billions in defense and economic support, a situation that some in Moscow have characterized as a “proxy war.”
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
