The United States needs a clear exit strategy for the Ukraine conflict, Donald Trump has told supporters at a campaign rally, insisting that neither his Democratic rival Kamala Harris nor President Joe Biden has any such plan.
“Biden and Kamala got us into this war in Ukraine, and now they can't get us out. They can't get us out,” the former president told the crowd in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday, reiterating his promise to end the conflict immediately if he is re-elected.
“I think that we're stuck in that war unless I'm president. I'll get it done. I'll negotiate; I’ll get us out. We gotta get out. Biden says, ‘We will not leave until we win,’” Trump claimed.
“What happens if the Russians win? That’s what they do – they fight wars. As someone told me the other day, they beat Hitler; they beat Napoleon. That’s what they do. They fight. And it’s not pleasant,” Trump said.
At another campaign rally on Monday, the Republican candidate claimed that Vladimir Zelensky wants Harris to win “so badly” because, as long as Democrats remain in power, the Ukrainian leader walks away with $60 billion every time he comes to the US.
Zelensky is currently in the US, where he is expected to meet with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and members of Congress to present them with his “victory plan,” which reportedly revolves around forcing Moscow into submission.
Ukrainian officials also claimed that Zelensky had planned to see Trump. However, a Trump campaign official told AP that no such meeting has been scheduled.
During Zelensky’s visit, the US intends to announce another $375 million batch of military aid to Ukraine, AP reported on Tuesday evening, citing anonymous sources in Washington. The package would include missiles for HIMARS launchers, cluster bombs for Ukrainian fighter jets, and other ammunition, which will come out of the US military stockpiles.
By the Pentagon’s account, the US has provided Ukraine over $56 billion in direct military aid since February 2022. In April, the US approved a $61 billion military assistance package for Kiev after months of opposition by some Republicans. Ukrainian officials are concerned that Trump could cut the flow of military aid.