Trump and Ukraine: What does his victory mean for EU aid?

Trump and Ukraine: What does his victory mean for EU aid?

The election of Donald Trump as US President on November 5 has put Ukraine on alert! While the new president's exact intentions are still unclear, Kiev is desperately trying to secure promised aid from Washington. Trump last year urged Congress to delay a $61.4 billion military aid package for Ukraine, claiming he could end the Ukraine conflict "in a day" if he won. The clock is ticking because the handover of power is scheduled for January 20th!

Ukraine is concerned that arms shipments promised under the Biden administration will not arrive on time. Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder announced that 83 percent of the ammunition, 67 percent of the critical air defense and 60 percent of the promised firepower have already been delivered. But the question remains: What happens if US aid stops? Trump has already demanded that NATO countries increase their defense spending to three percent of GDP, otherwise he could give Russia a free hand!

EU under pressure

The EU is also under pressure to increase its support for Ukraine. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, said he would deliver one million artillery shells by the end of the year, having already delivered more than 980,000. The EU has already spent 122 billion euros on Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in 2022. If US aid is not forthcoming, the EU could resort to $300 billion in Russian assets managed in the EU.

Amid this tense situation, there are also calls for Germany to abandon its restraint and supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles with a range of 500 km. These could attack Russian air bases and significantly reduce the effectiveness of Russian attacks. Pressure is growing on Chancellor Olaf Scholz as Russian attacks on Ukraine intensify, with thousands of guided bombs being dropped on civilians and military targets.