Vance and Trump likely to try to block aid to Ukraine

Mark Temnycky of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center told Business Insider that if Trump and Vance are elected in November, they would likely try to block or limit US aid.

— If the United States reduces its aid, Ukraine will have to rely more on European support and commitment. said Temnycky.

A senior EU official told POLITICO that Trump’s selection of Vance was a disaster for Ukraine and the EU, which has continued to support the country. The EU has provided €88 billion in economic, humanitarian and military aid since the start of the invasion.

Meanwhile, the United States sent $175 billion in aid to Ukraine in May. Vance was one of 18 senators who voted against a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel in April.

The project was eventually approved, although Vance told reporters that it was “very clear to Europe and the rest of the world that America cannot write blank checks forever.”

Speaking in Bannon’s “War Room” in February 2022, he said: “I’m sick of Joe Biden focusing on the borders of countries I don’t care about while allowing his own borders to become a total war zone.”

Vance’s words echoed Trump’s comments in May that he would be able to end the war within 24 hours if he were president.

“He basically agrees with Trump. That’s why neoconservatives [którzy chcą większej pomocy dla Ukrainy — red.] “they are afraid of him” — controversial former Fox News employee Tucker Carlson told Axios.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Detroit in June, Trump criticized the extent of US financial support for Ukraine.

— He left four days ago with $60 billion, came home and announced he needed another $60 billion. It never ends. — he said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

See also: Here’s how Joe Biden and other leaders’ brains are examined. Experts reveal what goes on behind the scenes

The role of the vice president should not be overstated

Will Vance’s views change once he takes office? Experts say it’s impossible to judge where Vance and Trump stand until they’re in the White House. Sergej Sumlenny, founder of German think tank the European Resilience Initiative Center, told BI that neither scenario is out of the question.

— The short answer is: nobody knows. Nobody knows because they can do anything. – he said. — Vance is known for changing his mind. He is a staunch opponent of Trump and is now his vice president. – he added.

— While Vance has been vocal in his opposition to Ukraine, he has not held a major position, and I expect he will. as vice president, his views will evolve Melinda Haring, senior adviser to Razom for Ukraine, a US charity, told Reuters.

According to Tom Packer, an honorary fellow at the Americas Institute at University College London, as vice president, Vance could have significant influence over Trump, but his role should not be overstated.

— The vice president has very little power – BI said, adding that while Vance is “very much against intervention – he clearly wants to stay out of a strong confrontation with Russia” – the vice president’s job is not “to steer foreign policy.”

Andrew Payne, a lecturer in foreign and security policy at the University of London, expressed a similar view.

“It is important not to overstate the role of the vice president in foreign affairs,” he told BI. He added that Today, very few vice presidents play a significant role in creating foreign policy.with the most notable exceptions being Walter Mondale and Dick Cheney.

— In both cases, the presidents in question, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, proved willing to delegate power in ways that would seem unacceptable to Trump, given his “only I can do it” fix-it style of leadership, he said.

However, Vance’s choice is not only Trump’s vice president, but also perhaps the heir to the MAGA (for “Make America Great Again” – ed.) political empire. is a signal about the future of the Republican Party..

For Ukraine supporters, it would be less disruptive to elect a candidate like Senator Marco Rubio, who speaks more moderately on foreign policy. A vice presidential candidate with balanced opinions on Ukraine could be a conciliatory gesture to the handful of Reagan-era conservatives who have been vocal in their opposition to Russian aggression.

However, in choosing Vance, Trump has redoubled his efforts to reshape the Republican Party to suit his agenda, isolationist policies and so on..

The text above is a translation of Business Insider American edition

Translator: Mateusz Albin