Reduced US aid to Ukraine sends 'bad' signal, warns Zelensky
4 Min Read
Concerned about the potential decrease in US aid, President Zelensky urges Germany to use its economic influence to rally EU partners for increased support to Kiev in its fight against Russia.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he gives a press conference in Kiev on February 24, 2023 (AFP)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned on Sunday that a reduction in aid from the United States to Kiev would convey a "negative message", highlighting the challenges faced by US President Joe Biden amid a Republican blockade on additional support.
Keeping in mind the possibility of reduced US aid, Zelensky called on Germany to leverage its economic influence to encourage EU partners to provide more support to Kiev in its struggle against Russia.
"Passivity from the United States or the lack of support would be a bad signal," he said as quoted by German national broadcaster ARD.
Zelensky cautioned that such a situation would be detrimental for everyone.
In response to a question about whether he expected Berlin to assume a greater role in the event of reduced assistance from the United States, he remarked, "Germany can manage to consolidate the EU."
"Many countries have important economic relationships with Germany and their economy is dependent on Germany's decisions because Germany has a strong economy," he said.
In a different interview on Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on European nations to increase their commitments to provide weapons to Ukraine, indicating the possibility that assistance from the US, the largest contributor, might cease.
"Europe must do more to support Ukraine in the defence of its own country," Scholz said, as quoted by Die Zeit weekly, stressing that the contributions that European nations have earmarked for 2024 so far are "not big enough."
The big picture
US aid has played a vital role in supporting the pro-Western nation in its war against Russia. However, opposition Republicans have spearheaded an effort to cease this support, insisting on withholding approval for new budget allocations unless Democrats consent to comprehensive and stringent measures addressing illegal migration.
Amid an election year where Joe Biden may face Donald Trump again, Zelensky has cautioned that a potential return of Trump to the White House could lead to a "different policy" regarding the ongoing war.
On this note, former US President Donald Trump on Sunday emphasized his doubts that NATO would come to the United States' rescue were it to come under attack in further criticism of the alliance that he has always shown disdain for.
Trump is essentially casting doubt on Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which stipulates collective defense in the event of an armed attack on a member state, saying he did not think the alliance would commit and help his country out.
"We're paying for NATO, and we don't get so much out of it. If we ever needed their help, let's say we were attacked, I don't believe they'd be there. I know the people," he said, addressing a large crowd of supporters.
The former US President has long been at odds with NATO, going as far as calling it "obsolete" during his first year in office and criticizing key US-allied NATO members, particularly Germany, for not spending more on defense. According to former National Security Advisor John Bolton, the US was ready to exit the alliance in 2018.
As part of his rant about NATO, Trump went on to criticize US President Joe Biden's decision to provide military aid to Ukraine in the ongoing war. "We don't have ammunition for ourselves, [yet] we're giving away so much," he argued.
He went on to pledge that he would put an end to the ongoing Ukraine war within "24 hours" were he to be re-elected, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnky dismissed earlier as unrealistic.
Trump is echoing a similar statement he made last year when he claimed that he could have influenced a cessation of the war in Ukraine within 24 hours by negotiation if he were still president, adding that the war would not have happened if he were still in his position.
This comes at a time when Trump is leading the Republican polls, making recent victories in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, which gave him momentum against his only remaining foe, former US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, who is still in the race after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew from it last week.
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