Ukrainian officials are hoping former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, could be swayed to continue supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia if they win in November, Time Magazine reported on Tuesday.
A senior Ukrainian official told the magazine that they believe Trump might initially cut aid to Ukraine and force Kyiv to make a deal with Moscow but could come around to continuing the proxy war.
“Over time, he will see that Putin cannot be trusted,” the anonymous official said, adding that Trump will realize “that Putin can’t care less about Trump and his agenda. That’s when we could start to see some advantages from Trump. He will not want to be played by Putin.”
The official said Ukraine was hoping for support from European countries and the US military-industrial complex in winning over Trump and Vance. “They can explain to [Trump] why this benefits many people in America, especially in red states. It creates jobs, it supports the economy,” the official said.
During his time in office, Trump pointed to arms sales to Saudi Arabia as a reason to continue supporting Riyadh despite the massive civilian casualties in its war in Yemen and the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
In recent weeks, both Trump and Vance have said they want to end the war in Ukraine. Vance has been a leading critic of the proxy war in Congress since he became a senator in January 2023 and has said the US should reduce support for Ukraine so it can focus on China.
The Ukrainian official said Kyiv is hoping Vance could be swayed as well. “He’s like a pendulum. His position swings from one side to the other,” the official said, noting he was once a staunch critic of Trump.
The Time report said Ukrainian officials were trying to see the positive in a potential second Trump administration and thought he could be more “decisive” than President Biden and not be worried about the risk of escalation.
The more hawkish wing of the Republican Party is hoping that Trump puts officials they favor in top positions in his cabinet as a counterbalance to Vance. Names being floated include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Tom Cotton, two ultra-hawks who support the proxy war. The Time report noted that if Pompeo is in the next administration, he could be a link to Trump for the Ukrainians.
Don’t worry, he won’t stop. His boy JD will find loopholes and since it’s his last term, he won’t care what people think about his broken promises
I am hoping that President Trump eliminates Zelensky and recovers as much of the stolen loot provided by Joey Biden as possible.
It will never happen.
I'm inclined to agree. The more the Ukrainians were given by or taken from Biden, is more (figurative) ammunition Trump has to hammer the Dems in whatever capacity they hold in Congress and Senate if he gets another term.
The Donald knows the value of losses for "tax" reasons.
You are right, Trump has his eyes on the bottom line and still makes frequently bad decisions losing money and has no qualms asking for donations to make up for his bad deals.
But Donald would have to deal with the deep state again, if he wins his appointments will tell a lot.
Indeed. I suspect Trump II would focus on the "near vendetta" first (gaining control of the DoJ, then destroying everyone who perseprosecuted him, then devastating future political opponents) and then, time-permitting, he's probably dumb enough to telegraph a front-on assault on the Deep State.
I say "time-permitting" with a sarcastic laugh; Project 2025 will give him Imperial powers, likely obliterate the 2-term limit, and ensure his Republican successors (after his death from natural causes at 97) can continue to exclude political opponents from the "democratic process".
Voting in November 2032 : "Should President Trump Continue His Rule : YES, or AGREE ?"
If Trump wins, he will be the oldest president yet, beating Biden by 3 or 4 months.
…which totally messes with my perception. Someone says "ballpark how old Donald is" and my brain leaps to '58' & that Joltin' Joe is ~25 years his senior.
Biden was born Nov. 1942 and Trump June 1946. At that age we need more than ball park stuff.
Good old Biden aged in office, and poor Trump will too, and who knows what could happen.
I am old enough not to tell.
Are you effing kidding me?!
Nightmare on D.C.!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you considered moving up to Canada, D ? Only two of our major federal parties are headed by idiots (I rate our current PM only as 'ineffectual') and those parties, despite bring what we here call Right and far-Right, equate to "center-Right" in your system.
As if they are P and VP already…!?
Wow. These Ukrainian officials are spot on. Do they know Trump or what? And Vance.
What is in it for the Ukrainian officials? Anyone with a gram of common sense knows it is criminal, useless to fight a lost war with blood and life of other people.
How evil, viscous these people are and all for more money, they know what they do.
"Ukrainian Officials Hope To Convince Trump To Continue War"
'And Russkie-lovers that get in the way? Terrible thing, all these Kiev traitors jumping outa' windows all o' the sudden, Mister Trump Sir. Terrible thing.'
"Ukrainian Officials Hope To Convince Trump To Continue War"
'And Russkie-lovers that get in the way? Terrible thing, all these Kiev traitors jumping outa' windows all o' the sudden, Mister Trump Sir. Terrible thing.'