Donald Trump has hinted that he is not opposed to aid renewal for Ukraine, but it should not come in “loans” not gifts.” The former president stated in a press conference after meeting with US House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“We’re thinking about making it in the form of a loan, instead of just a gift. We keep handing out gifts of billions and billions of dollars and we’ll take a look at it.” Trump added. “But much more importantly to me is the fact that Europe has to step up, and they have to give money. They have to equalise. If they don’t equalise, I’m very upset about it, because they’re affected much more than we are.”
Trump has also claimed that he would end the Ukraine conflict in a day if he were president.
Trump is seen as one of the major reasons why a proposed aid package for Ukraine worth $60 billion has not been passed by the US Congress. The former president created controversy when he stated in February that he would “encourage” Russia to attack any Nato member that did not pay their bills. But reports have circulated that Speaker Johnson is in talks with White House officials, where a revised aid package may be on the table.
“Trump also added in the press conference that under Biden’s presidency, the US had collapsed. “We’re a nation in decline, we’re a declining nation.”
President Zelensky has openly admitted that without American aid, Ukraine will lose the ongoing war with Russia. The Ukrainian president’s words have been echoed by US allies, most recently Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida who recently addressed the US Congress. In his speech, Kishida stated that the US needed to continue playing a “pivotal role in the affairs of nations” and added that without US support Ukraine’s hopes would “collapse under the onslaught from Moscow.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
