US President Donald Trump has criticised European nations for spending more on purchasing Russian oil and gas than on supporting Ukraine, as he delivered a speech to the US Congress outlining his stance on the ongoing conflict.
“Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine by far,” Trump said, drawing a comparison between Western financial commitments and aid provided by United States to support Kyiv.
The US president, who has repeatedly questioned US financial aid to Ukraine, continued: “The United States has sent hundreds of billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s defence, with no security, with no way. Do you want to keep it going for another five years?” He claimed that around 2,000 people were being killed every week in the conflict, adding, “They are Russian young people. They’re Ukrainian young people. They’re not Americans. But I want it to stop.”
Trump then claimed that Washington had provided up to $350 billion in support, while Europe had only contributed $100 billion, saying, “What a difference that is. And we have an ocean separating us. And they don’t.”
In his address, Trump also revealed that he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “The letter reads: ‘Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,'” Trump read aloud.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence,” he continued. Trump claimed that discussions with Russia had also yielded “strong signals that they are ready for peace.”
Zelenskyy has sought to mend ties with Trump following their highly publicised clash in the Oval Office last week, describing the dispute as “regrettable” and stating his desire “to make things right.”
During that meeting, Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of being ungrateful for US assistance, while Trump criticised the Ukrainian leader’s negotiating position. Zelenskyy ultimately left Washington without signing a minerals and security agreement that Trump had been pushing for, which would have given the US greater control over Ukraine’s vast natural resources.
The US pause on military aid has already begun to impact weapons shipments. According to The New York Times, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of arms that were in the process of being sent to Ukraine have now been halted.
