Donald Trump says Europe is ‘getting away with murder’ by not providing more aid to Ukraine
Donald Trump says Europe ‘gets away with murder’ by stopping helping Ukraine
- Trump said Europe is ‘smiling all the way to the bank’ as they ‘get away with murder’ by not giving Ukraine more financial aid
- Is because the US remains the biggest financier of Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression when ‘they are there’ and the US is ‘an ocean apart’
- Ex-president said Europe should pay the same if not more than the US
Donald Trump accused Europe of “smiling all the way to the bank” for avoiding transferring too much cash and military aid to Ukraine during the war with Russia.
Instead, Trump says, the US is entrusted with most of the aid to Ukraine — even coming from a less-at-risk area across the ocean from the fighting.
Speaking to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Trump said he would make sure Europe gives the same, if not more, financial aid to Ukraine than the US has provided.
“Would you stop sending money to Ukraine now?” the Sunday Morning Futures host asked the former president.
He replied, “I would settle the war.”
Former President Donald Trump said Europe is ‘smiling all the way to the bank’ as they ‘get away with murder’ by not giving Ukraine more financial support in its war with Russia
No. 1 on Trump’s priority list for war if he becomes president in 2024 is to make sure Europe pays more to fund Ukraine’s defensive efforts against Russia rather than bear the brunt of the costs falling on the US
“The money is number one,” Trump said. “I would say to Europe: you are about $100 billion plus short. Okay? You have to pay.’
“Because Europe is smiling all the way to the bank,” he added. Europe does very little compared to the United States and it affects them more. Look, any way you look at it, they’re there. We are an ocean apart.’
Why are we at $150 billion and they at $20? [billion]?’ he wondered.
Trump said it’s not because of a lack of resources, claiming that when European countries are combined, their economies are similar to America’s.
“They should be on the same number as us, if not more,” the former president lamented. “And they get away with murder.”
The comments came as part of a pre-recorded interview that aired on last Sunday’s show on Fox and also on this week’s Sunday Morning Futures programme.
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 also follows Biden’s controversial decision to send more cluster munitions to Ukraine.
This is because the US is still the largest financier 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 did not allow Ukraine to join the treaty, but declared united support for the European nation in its defense against Russian aggression, which began when Moscow invaded from the east in February 2022.
Trump said European countries have consistently tried to evade their responsibilities by pledging financial support from international efforts to the US
He claims that Europe tried to shun their financial responsibilities when it came to NATO.
“You know what I did with NATO,” he told the Fox host. “They didn’t pay and I made them pay. And took them, hundreds of billions of dollars. I said, if you don’t pay, we’re not going to protect you.’
Many Republicans are critical of Biden sending too much aid — both financial and weapons — to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Earlier this month, he also authorized the Defense Ministry to mobilize an additional 3,000 troops to Europe to help secure the region. The White House has repeatedly assured that there will be no American boots on the ground in Ukraine.