US President Donald Trump has once again publicly criticized the policy of his predecessor, Joe Biden, regarding Ukraine, stating that Washington received no return on the $350 billion in aid provided. Speaking at a rally, the head of the White House emphasized that under his administration, European partners are now paying for arms supplies to Kyiv under the PURL program, whereas under Biden, in his estimation, no fee was charged.
«Biden gave away a significant part of the military»
According to a broadcast by The National Desk, cited by RBC-Ukraine, Trump stated that his team «rebuilt the armed forces,» while the former president, in his assessment, «gave away a significant part of them.» «We should have charged something for it. This is Europe. They can pay,» said the American leader, contrasting his administration's approach with Biden's actions and pointing out that the US now receives payment from Europeans for arms deliveries to Ukraine.
The PURL program as a tool for cost recovery
According to Trump, this refers to the PURL program, through which partner countries co-finance the procurement of weapons for Ukraine. «I think they are transferring weaponry to Ukraine or someone else, but they are paying us. Biden could have asked for that. He gave away $350 billion, and we got nothing in return except for them thinking we are fools,» said the US President, calling the former aid model unprofitable.
Criticism of Zelensky and call for a new negotiator
In another speech, excerpts of which were published by the official White House Rapid Response 47 account, Trump criticized Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that the Ukrainian leader «should have settled this war a long time ago» and that «it is time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.» The head of the White House also claimed that Zelensky «is not doing much to help» end the conflict and reiterated that the US «has given a lot to Ukraine but got nothing in return.»
Online reaction and disputing the amount
The president's statements sparked a reaction in the media landscape. The Wall Street Journal correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov recalled that 18 Ukrainian servicemen died while participating in the operation in Iraq on the US side, and former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul noted that about 5,000 Ukrainian troops served in Iraq and highlighted Kyiv's assistance in intercepting Iranian drones. At the same time, the $350 billion figure voiced by Trump has been repeatedly disputed. Summing up, the head of the White House thanked his special envoy Steve Witkoff for his «peace efforts,» noting that he is «achieving tremendous success».
