Ukraine War. President Trump and the European Union.

Response/s to a Facebook chat on the subject of Mr Trump “losing” the war.

FOR now, I believe, the real battle is between Mr Trump and the EU or European powers in NATO. A continuing war means the EU's recent pledge to increase their share of NATO funding (esp. Germany's 16 percent or more) will be tested.

       Or The D's decision to resume sending U.S. military aid to Ukraine (after Russia stepped up strikes) would be via NATO. Germany, France, UK et al will have to foot most of the bill. POTUS previously held or delayed arms aid to Kyiv as he resumed talks with Vladimir Putin. 

       Of course, Don's negotiations with Vlad were rendered useless after Europe decided to keep on sending weapons to Volodymyr Zelensky; the EU opted to keep the war raging. ☮️☮️☮️

LAST year or during Joe Biden's time, the U.S. Congress appropriated a new $174 billion aid to Ukraine; the House approved $61 billion. So this means that this money will only be partially sent or not at all since Mr Trump has urged NATO to take full/more responsibility this time. Of course, the military alliance was active since the war started in February 2022 but it was the U.S. or President Biden taking the lead.

       So the chess game is now within the West. Anyhow, the question here, as President Trump's dove gasps, is whether NATO or EU back down from sending more arms to Ukraine (regardless that they increased their share of NATO budget per POTUS prodding). An end to the war serves Mr Trump's playbook. That'd mean he can resume his trade talks with Kyiv. 

No more war means an election happens in Ukraine. Which also means “Goodbye, Zelensky!” So would Z refuse EU's aid? Nope. He wants to stay. But the Ukrainian people already suffered so much. They are the real ones who "lost." 

       And why would Donald Trump be the POTUS who lost this war when he only inherited it from Joe Biden? Even if Donald is able to end this war, he didn't win--he just ended it. Already, the people lost. Not just the Ukrainians and Russians, but also American taxpayers who had to watch U.S. money get wasted in wars instead of funding gut-level imperatives such as FEMA. 

       FEMA had a budget deficit of $7.4 billion in 2024; The D lowered it to $2.9 billion. Still, that is huge money. You see, Mr Biden's government has handed Z billions$ since 2022 (apart from aid during the 2014 revolution) yet FEMA stayed bankrupt. 

       Oh well.

       The other issue: If Mr Trump disregards what Congress decided last year (new aid to Ukraine(, expect another impeachment move. With Israel, it's "easier." Whether there is an Israel war or not, Tel Aviv will still get the annual $3+ billion military aid from the US. For Z, "no war = no more aid." ☮️☮️☮️