Trump will not give a penny to Ukraine

Hungary premier says after meeting him in Florida

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FE Team | Published: March 11, 2024 21:21:46

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TEXAS, Mar 11 (BBC/AFP): Donald Trump will not fund Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion if he is elected US president again, Hungarian PM Viktor Orban has said. "He will not give a penny in the Ukraine-Russia war. That is why the war will end," the conservative premier said after meeting Mr Trump in Florida.
The former US president has pledged to end the war "within 24 hours" if elected - but provided no details. Mr Orban is openly backing his long-term ally in the 2024 White House race. "It is obvious that Ukraine cannot stand on its own feet," Mr Orban told Hungary's M1 TV channel late on Sunday.
"If the Americans don't give money and weapons, along with the Europeans, then the war is over. And if the Americans don't give money, the Europeans alone are unable to finance this war. And then the war is over."
He added that Mr Trump had "pretty detailed plans" on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war - but did not elaborate. Mr Trump has not publicly commented on Mr Orban's TV interview.
At their Friday meeting in Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansion, the former US president praised his guest. "There's nobody that's better, smarter, or a better leader than Viktor Orban. He's fantastic," he said.
During his US visit, Mr Orban did not meet current US President Joe Biden, who is expected to be Mr Trump's main rival in the presidential elections in November.
It is highly unusual for a visiting foreign leader to schedule talks with former counterparts without calling on the current leadership.
The Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly drawn strong criticism from fellow EU leaders for maintaining close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, ever since he launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Unlike many other Western nations, Mr Orban refuses to send weapons to its neighbour Ukraine, stating repeatedly that Kyiv is unable to win against a nuclear-armed Russia.
EU leaders are increasingly concerned that a second Trump presidency would see a significant reduction in US military and financial aid to Ukraine and also the Nato military alliance.
A $95bn (£75bn) foreign aid bill - including $60bn in military assistance to Ukraine - has been stalled in US Congress because of Republican opposition.
The Republicans - openly encouraged by Mr Trump - say they will not allow the bill to clear the final hurdle in the House of Representatives without first agreeing additional funding for US border security.
Kremlin declines to comment
if naval chief sacked
The Kremlin on Monday declined to comment on reports it had sacked the commander-in-chief of its navy after losing a string of warships to Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea.
Several news outlets including the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper said over the weekend that Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov had been replaced by Northern Fleet commander Alexander Moiseyev.
The Kremlin refused to comment on the reported appointment, which would typically be announced by presidential decree.
"There are decrees labelled secret, I cannot comment on them. There were no public decrees on this matter," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Yevmenov, 61, was appointed head of the navy in May 2019. If confirmed, his removal would be the biggest shakeup in Russia's military top brass since the sacking of aerospace force chief Sergei Surovikin last year.