EU's Borrell in Kiev to 'reassure Ukraine' after Trump win
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During his visit to Kiev, Borrell told Ukrainian President Zelensky "we will support you as much as we can".
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European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, right, talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (not in picture) during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, in Seoul, South Korea, on November 4, 2024. (AP)
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived in Kiev on Saturday to reaffirm Europe's support for Ukraine, marking the first visit by a senior Brussels official following Donald Trump's election victory.
Trump's win in the US election has raised concerns in both Ukraine and Europe, with fears that he may cut off Washington's backing for Kiev in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
"The message is a clear one -- the Europeans will continue to support Ukraine," Borrell, who is set to leave office next month, told an AFP journalist accompanying him.
He added, "We have been supporting Ukraine since the beginning, and on this last visit to Ukraine, I convey the same message, we will support you as much as we can."
During his campaign, Trump questioned the ongoing flow of extensive US military and financial aid to Ukraine, suggesting he could quickly negotiate a deal to bring an end to the war.
Borell pointed out that incumbent Joe Biden still has two months in power, stressing, "Nobody knows exactly what the new administration is going to do."
"But we Europeans have to use this opportunity in order to build a stronger and united Europe, and one of the manifestations of being united and being stronger and able to act is our role in supporting Ukraine."
US arms aid to Ukraine
Since the beginning of the war in 2022, Europe has collectively contributed around $125 billion in support of Ukraine, while the United States has provided more than $90 billion, according to the Kiel Institute's tracker.
As the largest single donor to Ukraine, US support is considered essential for the country's survival, particularly given the political uncertainty in key European nations such as Germany and France.
On Friday, the US Department of Defense announced that it would continue providing military aid to Ukraine until the end of Biden’s term, aiming to exhaust the remaining allocated funds for supplies before Trump assumes office.
The White House is set to fast-track weapons deliveries to Ukraine, according to reports from Reuters and Politico on Wednesday. Citing unnamed US officials, the reports underscored concerns that, even with President Biden’s approval of further aid, the Pentagon could face delays in delivering the equipment, potentially taking months. This delay raises fears that the incoming president could halt the shipments at any time.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on Thursday that, despite some equipment being out of stock or requiring more time for delivery, the Defense Department anticipates that President-elect Trump will not block any aid packages already approved by President Biden. She clarified that the Pentagon still has around $4 billion in military aid available for Ukraine through the previously committed Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) and about $2 billion through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
“When it comes to presidential drawdown packages, some things can arrive within days and weeks. Some items in those packages take longer. It does matter on what’s available on our shelves,” Singh said.
Furthermore, Singh assured that military aid packages for Ukraine will continue to be dispatched in the coming weeks, stating, “You’re going to continue to see packages roll out before the end of this administration.”
