Donald Trump Jr. recently mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a social media post that implied that Ukraine has around one month left to lose American military aid. He reposted Sarah Palin’s Instagram video featuring Zelensky looking somber alongside his father, President-elect Donald Trump. The caption read: "POV: You're 38 days from losing your allowance," referring to December 17, when the US presidential electors will vote for president and vice president based on the November 5 outcome.
The backdrop of Trump Jr.’s post
Trump has reportedly pledged to solve the Ukraine conflict "within a day" by signing the agreement, which would mean that the country loses most of the territories occupied by Russia. During an interview with the BBC on Saturday, Republican strategist Bryan Lanza explained that Trump’s presidency would prefer a peace settlement over regaining the lost territories, including Crimea.
Lanza also noted that Trump will prioritize peace at the cost of not rolling back the Russian territorial gains.
"And if President Zelensky comes to the table and says, well we can only have peace if we have Crimea, he shows to us that he's not serious. Crimea is gone," he said.
However, reportedly, Trump’s transition team swiftly attempted to clarify Lanza’s comments, saying the latter does not in any way speak for the president-elect.
The current state of US aid to Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine has escalated since February 2022, when Russia invaded the country. The US has responded by providing military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. US Department of State data state that recently, Congress approved as much as $61 billion as an aid package, and the total sum of the American contribution reportedly amounts to $175 billion since the start of the conflict.
The recent aid package passed through Congress after a long debate is vital in maintaining Ukraine’s defense against Russia. They will be used for major defense supplies, economic aid, and oversight monies to monitor the proper utilization of American resources.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report, almost $25.7 billion is for military assistance, which includes resupplying US stocks besides the Foreign Military Financing. Also, $7.9 billion is provided for economic assistance to ensure the continued functioning of necessary authorities in Ukraine.
Nevertheless, there are still questions about the volume and relevance of the assistance arriving in the area. Critics reportedly say that too many months of hesitation helped Russia seize the initiative on the ground, and people now ask if American support for Ukraine is "too little, too late" for it to matter militarily. Citing military analysts, Emissary reports that the sanctions make it difficult for the Ukrainian military to initiate counter-offensive operations because Russia’s military infrastructure is much bigger than Ukraine’s.
Political dynamics in US support for Ukraine
Reportedly, there are polarized views regarding America’s assistance to Ukraine. A lot of Republicans have doubts about its further financing, noting that it is Europe’s business to respond to the actions of Russia. Such feelings were expressed reportedly by President-elect Donald Trump and his followers, who blamed the Biden administration for overspending on Ukraine. The recent trolling of President Zelensky by Trump Jr. on his Instagram account is illustrative of this division and part of a bigger narrative that seeks to challenge the viability of the support that Ukrainians are receiving from the US.
However, there are also indications of bipartisan support for continued aid. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal have said they will push for more funding before this year is over, suggesting a possible new shift towards more regular, longer-term support of Ukraine. They were quoted by the Atlantic Council telling President Zelensky:
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“We’re going to fight for another supplemental [aid package] before the end of the calendar year.”
Polls cited by the Atlantic Council suggest that a majority of Americans remain supportive of assisting Ukraine, which can change the dynamics of Congress. Notably, according to the magazine, every incumbent House and Senate member who supported the April 2024 aid package is a primary winner this year.
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