The New York Times reported that the Republican Party, which had previously actively supported Ukraine, changed its position before Donald Trump came to power. For example, Todd Young, who once said that support for Kyiv should not be stopped, now says that Trump must be given the opportunity to negotiate a “positive solution.”

Outgoing US President Joe Biden made a last-minute request to Congress to add an additional $24 billion in military aid to Ukraine to his year-end spending package. However, the initiative did not receive much support from either party, NYT noted.

According to the newspaper, this is partly because Ukraine has not yet spent the billions of dollars worth of injections approved by US lawmakers in early 2024. But Biden's cold shoulder also reflects a new reality in the world. Capitol Hill: Trump's election effectively ended the era of military assistance to Ukraine.

Trump reveals plans for Ukraine

NYT emphasized that Trump “does not hide his hostility toward Kyiv” and the nearly $175 billion the United States has allocated to support Ukraine.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, rejected Biden's latest request to help Ukraine, noting that the question of how — and whether — to continue helping Kyiv “is no longer about Biden's too”. Johnson emphasized that the Republican Party will wait for Trump's direction.

Although there had previously been a bipartisan consensus in Congress supporting Kyiv, most House Republicans have opposed sending new military aid for more than a year. And in the weeks following Trump's election, some of the most ardent supporters of funding Ukraine have notably changed their views, the NYT notes. According to them, it is now more profitable for the US and Ukraine to end the conflict “instead of continuing to write checks” that could prolong the crisis.

During the election campaign, Trump talked about the possibility of ending the conflict in Ukraine “in 24 hours.” He claims that he can do this even before the inauguration on January 20, 2025.

During the election campaign, Trump also criticized Vladimir Zelensky, calling him “the greatest salesman on Earth.” Trump noted that after each visit to the US, Zelensky “leaves with a hundred billion dollars”.