In recent statements, former US President Donald Trump has levelled strong criticism against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, describing him as 'ungrateful' for the financial support extended to Ukraine by the United States in light of Russia's invasion. During an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that Zelensky had taken "billions in American cash like candy from a baby," asserting that the amount of aid provided was around $350 billion, a figure which has been widely disputed. Actual estimates of US financial assistance to Ukraine since the onset of the conflict in February 2022 vary between $119 billion and $183 billion.
The tensions between Trump and Zelensky have intensified in recent weeks, leading to Trump pausing all US military funding for Ukraine and prompting Zelensky to issue an apology regarding the discord. Trump framed his argument by saying, "I just don't think [Zelensky is] grateful," and further elaborated on the ease with which he claims funds were acquired under President Biden's leadership.
In addition to his comments about Ukraine, Trump attempted to deflect accusations about his approach to Russia, contending that he has been exceptionally firm with the country. “Nobody has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump and they know that,” he asserted, highlighting actions such as halting the Russian pipeline and imposing sanctions.
During the same interview, Trump acknowledged the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons, describing them as "monsters" that hold the potential to "end the world." He expressed concern regarding the vast sums of money spent on nuclear arsenals, stating, "It's just bad that you have to spend all this money on something that if it's used, it's probably the end of the world." Trump positioned the danger of nuclear war as superior to threats like climate change, asserting a belief that nuclear conflict “could happen tomorrow.”
The remarks from Trump came in the backdrop of alarming casualty figures reported by Ukraine's Armed Forces, which noted that approximately 885,130 Russian soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the invasion. In addition to personnel losses, the Russian military has suffered the destruction of significant amounts of military equipment, including over 10,000 tanks and hundreds of aircraft.
Reports indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces are expected to face further heavy losses in the upcoming weeks, with estimates predicting that fatalities could reach near one million. As tensions continue to escalate, efforts towards peace negotiations appear stagnant, especially following intense missile strikes that recently resulted in casualties in Ukraine.
Source: Noah Wire Services