US aid to Ukraine must be a loan, not a gift - Trump
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Republican candidate for upcoming elections Donald Trump made it clear that he would not mind helping Ukraine if it will be done through loan system, The Hill cited Former US President on April 12.
Trump made his comment at his Mar-a-Lago residence during a meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has been blocking the bill to help Ukraine for several months.
"We’re looking at it right now, and they’re talking about it, and we’re thinking about making it in the form of a loan instead of just a gift," Former President said.
"We keep handing out gifts of billions and billions of dollars, and we’ll take a look at it."
Read also: Macron: Europe ready with $53 billion aid package for Ukraine if US falters
At the same time, he added that it is much more important for him that Europe should also help Ukraine and "catch up" with the United States in this regard, because it is they are countires, primarily affected by the war.
"Europe has to step up, and they have to give money," Trump added.
"They have to catch up. If they don't match, I'll be very upset, because it affects them much more than it affects us."
For months, he has expressed skepticism about American assistance to Ukraine in its war against Russia, arguing that supporting Ukraine is not a vital American interest and that Europe should provide bulk of aid.
Read also: Biden and Sullivan halt push for Ukraine aid amid concerns of Russian nuclear threat
Trump's views, The Hill writes, have considerable influence among his allies in Congress, making it difficult to pass a bill to help Ukraine in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.
US aid struggle
Since October 2023, Republicans in United States have been blocking Ukraine aid bill, originally citing the need to tighten US migration policy.
However, on Feb. 13, the US Senate passed a bill providing $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, with $60 billion allocated to Ukraine.
Despite this, House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate proposal and refused to submit it for consideration.
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After a meeting with President Joe Biden on Feb. 28, Johnson stated he would bring the aid extension to a vote "in a timely manner," noting urgent need for aid to Ukraine.
On March 22, the US House of Representatives approved a $1.2 trillion funding package for government agencies, while on March 23, Senate passed the same package, leading President Biden to sign it and call on the House to pass a bill supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
After Easter recess, Republican Congressman Don Bacon stated that the bill to help Ukraine would be voted in the House of Representatives.
Read also: Ukraine will lose Russia’s war if the US Congress can’t figure out how to pass aid bill – Zelenskyy
However, on April 2, Marjorie Taylor Green, a Republican Party member, urged Speaker Johnson not to provide Ukraine with financial aid.
As of April 5, Biden administration was negotiating new aid for Ukraine with Speaker Johnson, who mentioned important innovations in the aid bill on April 1.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
