Trump the Peacemaker? How his presidency might help end the war in Ukraine
Donald Trump, the current frontrunner in this year’s race for the Oval Office, has a compromise plan which is grounded in reality
What does the plan foresee? In essence, it is built on a simple premise: to use Washington’s leverage over Ukraine to force the country to accept a peace that will come with concessions, territorial and otherwise. In the words of Keith Kellogg, “We tell the Ukrainians, ‘You’ve got to come to the table, and if you don’t come to the table, support from the United States will dry up’.” Since Kiev is vitally dependent on American assistance, it is hard to see how it could resist such pressure. Perhaps to give an appearance of “balance” for the many Republicans still hawkish on Russia, the plan also includes a threat addressed to Moscow: “And you tell Putin,” again in Kellogg’s terms, “he’s got to come to the table and if you don’t come to the table, then we’ll give Ukrainians everything they need to kill you in the field.” Fun Fact:
How Much U.S. Aid Is Going to Ukraine?
( Nine charts illustrate the extraordinary level of support the United States has provided Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders.)
Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, the United States has provided a significant amount of aid to Ukraine. The total budget authority under five bills passed by the U.S. Congress is $175 billion. However, it's important to note that of this total:- Only $107 billion directly aids the government of Ukraine.
- The remainder is funding various U.S. activities associated with the war in Ukraine and supporting other affected countries in the region.
It's worth mentioning that this aid from the United States is part of a larger international effort. Many other countries, including most members of NATO and the EU, are also providing substantial aid packages to Ukraine. The scale of U.S. aid to Ukraine is considered extraordinary when compared to other recipients of U.S. assistance in recent years and ranks among the largest relative to the size of the U.S. economy in recent decades. |
