The US has stopped sending promised arms aid to Ukraine, indicating that Trump continues to align himself more closely with Putin on the war in Ukraine.
The US Department of Defense has confirmed that Ukraine should expect a halt to all US arms shipments - including those promised by former President Joe Biden. "I can't give details on which arms shipments have been suspended," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, but added: "For four years under the Biden administration, we have provided weapons and ammunition regardless of how much we still have ourselves."
A comprehensive review is underway. The principle is: "America First," the Pentagon spokesman said. According to him, President Trump was elected "to put America first."
Cutting off military aid?
Donald Trump himself spoke of a "very good" meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in The Hague last week. However, regarding the Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, which Ukraine urgently needs, Trump stressed: "They are very difficult to obtain. We need them too." The Patriot systems are particularly important for Ukraine to protect itself from Russian air attacks.
Does this mean that US aid to Ukraine is ending? Max Bergmann, a Europe expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, says: Yes, there is such a risk.
Ukraine is no longer a priority for the US
"It is clear that the Trump administration will not seek any new assistance from Congress. Ukraine is no longer a priority for this administration," the political scientist said. The only question that remains is when the aid approved by the Biden administration will expire - and whether the US will continue to share classified information with Ukraine.
"The Trump administration has no interest in getting too deeply involved in this war," Bergmann says. Trump has tried to start peace negotiations, but that has had little effect so far.
"We have a president who does not want hostile relations with Russia, who does not see Russia the way the European NATO partners see it, but who wants a good relationship with Russia," he says.
Reduction of aid
The foreseeable end of US arms aid is bitter for Ukraine. But so is the drastic reduction in US development aid. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has been the largest recipient of funds from the development assistance agency USAID.
This aid has also financed the salaries of Ukrainian rescue workers and teachers. It has also supported the work of local Ukrainian media and the clearance of mines in areas recaptured from Russia.
The Trump administration has shut down the development assistance agency, and only the remaining funds are now under the supervision of the State Department. According to Reuters news agency, US development assistance to Ukraine amounted to just under $4.3 billion last December.
By March, it had shrunk to less than $1.3 billion. The downward trend is continuing.
Can the gap be closed?
The question remains whether Europe can close all these gaps - or, as political scientist Bergmann puts it: "Will Germany be able to cover the costs?" The answer from most experts - at least in the short and medium term - very difficult!/ DW (A2 Televizion)
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