What Trump’s re-election means for Ukraine-Russia war?
- 7 November, 06:53
Donald Trump’s re-election as the president of the United States will likely change the course of the war in Ukraine. The new president-elect is a strong critic of large-scale US military aid to Kyiv and has repeatedly blamed Ukraine for the ongoing war with Russia. Many believe that following Trump’s victory, the war in Ukraine might end on Russia’s term.
Quick end to Ukraine-Russia war
Trump has claimed that the Ukraine-Russia war would not have started if he had been president. Throughout his election campaign, Trump claimed he could quickly end the Russia-Ukraine war without delving into the details of that plan. “I have a very exacting plan on how to stop Ukraine and Russia,” Trump said in an interview. He even boasted that had he won the 2020 election, he would have ended the war “in 24 hours.” During one of his debate speeches, Trump pledged that if elected in November, he would “get it done before even becoming president” in January. Trump’s rivals have accused him of having good ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and voiced concerns that the Republican candidate’s victory would amount to the surrender of Ukraine.
Halt in military aid to Kyiv
Another major concern is that Trump’s re-election could curtail US support to Ukraine amid Russia’s advances in the east of the country. Trump has repeatedly slammed the large-scale military aid to Ukraine and during a campaign rally in June, called Zelenskiy “the greatest salesman of all time” for securing a $60 billion aid for Kyiv. Back then, in fear of Trump’s re-election, the Biden administration extended long-term aid to Ukraine and Vice-President Kamala Harris rushed to unveil another $1.5 billion aid package the same week. While, expressing scepticism towards Zelenskiy, Trump has praised Vladimir Putin and downplayed war crimes committed by Kremlin in Ukraine.
Trump’s running mate and the new Vice President Vance has been more specific about plans regarding to Ukraine. According to Vance, Trump will start negotiations with the Kremlin, Ukraine and European stakeholder over the ongoing war. “Ukraine retains its independent sovereignty, Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine – it doesn’t join NATO, it doesn’t join some of these allied institutions. That is what the deal is ultimately going to look something like,” Vance said in one of interviews in September.
Kyiv is apprehensive
Zelenskiy has up till now downplayed Trump’s seemingly pro-Russian stance. In late October, he said that “Trump talks a lot, but I didn’t hear him say he would reduce support for Ukraine.”
However, on Wednesday, Zelenskiy acknowledged that “the next US president may strengthen or weaken support for Ukraine.” “If that support weakens, Russia will seize more territory, it would prevent us from winning this war. That is the reality. Our stance isn’t about territorial compromises but exploring potential diplomatic paths that rely on the US maintaining its commitment. A genuine desire from the United States to end this war swiftly is crucial,” Zelenskiy said in an interview with South Korea’s KBS media outlet.
Following the election results on November 6, Zelenskiy joined other world leaders to congratulate Trump on his re-election, stating he admires Trump’s “commitment to the “peace through strength’ approach in global affairs.” Zelenskiy expressed Kyiv’s interest “in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations.”
