Donald Trump says Europe ‘is getting away with it’ by not providing more aid to Ukraine
- Trump said Europe is “smiling all the way to the bank” because “they are getting away with it” by not giving Ukraine more financial assistance.
- It comes as the US remains the largest funder of Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression when “they are right there” and the US is “an ocean away”.
- The former president said that Europe should pay the same, if not more, than the US.
Donald Trump accused Europe of ‘smiling all the way to the bank’ because it avoided shelling out too much cash and military aid to Ukraine during its war with Russia.
Instead, Trump says, the United States has borne the lion’s share of assistance to Ukraine, even from an area at lower risk across the ocean from the fighting.
Speaking with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Trump said he would make sure that Europe was providing just as much, if not more, financial aid to Ukraine as the United States has provided.
‘Would you stop the money for Ukraine right now?’ the Sunday Morning Futures presenter asked the former president.
He replied: ‘I would arrange the war.’
Former President Donald Trump said Europe is “smiling all the way to the bank” because “they are getting away with it” by not giving Ukraine more financial aid in its war with Russia.
Number 1 on Trump’s list of war priorities if he becomes president in 2024 is making sure Europe pays more to fund Ukraine’s defensive efforts against Russia rather than the US bearing the brunt of the cost.
“Money is number one,” Trump said. ‘I would say to Europe: you’re about $100 billion short. Well? You have to pay.
“Because Europe smiles all the way to the bank,” he added. ‘Europe is doing very little compared to the United States and it affects them more. See, no matter how you look at it, they’re right there. We are an ocean away.
‘Why are we at $150 billion and they’re at $20 [billion]?’ she questioned.
Trump said it’s not for lack of resources, arguing that when European countries are combined, their economies are equal to the United States.
“They should be in the same number as us, if not more,” lamented the former president. And they get away with murder.
The comments came as part of a pre-recorded interview that aired during last Sunday’s show on Fox and also on this week’s Sunday Morning Futures show.
It follows President Joe Biden’s trip to Europe earlier this month, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the 2023 NATO Summit. It is also followed by Biden’s controversial decision to send more cluster bombs to Ukraine.
It comes as the United States remains the largest funder of Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the 2023 NATO Summit in Lithuania earlier this month.
NATO stopped short of allowing Ukraine to join the treaty but declared unified support for the European nation in its defense against Russian aggression, which began when Moscow invaded from the east in February 2022.
Trump said that European countries have consistently tried to shirk their responsibilities by pawning financial support for international efforts on the US.
He claims that Europe tried to shirk its financial responsibilities when it came to NATO.
“You know what I did with NATO,” he told the Fox host. They weren’t paying and I made them pay. And he took them, hundreds of billions of dollars. I said, if you don’t pay we won’t protect you.’
Many Republicans criticize Biden for sending too much aid, both financial and arms, to Ukraine in the war with Russia.
He also authorized the Department of Defense earlier this month to mobilize 3,000 more service members to Europe to help protect the region. The White House has repeatedly assured that there will be no US troops on the ground in Ukraine.
I am Rakesh Sharma, I associated with Elite News as an Editor, since 2021. I take care of all the news operations like content, budget, hiring and policy making.