Trump Campaign's Stance on Ukraine War
Donald Trump's campaign for the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries has taken a firm stance on the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for European countries to shoulder a greater share of the costs. Stephen Cheng, Trump's campaign spokesperson, conveyed this message to Voice of America, reiterating Trump's commitment to ending the conflict swiftly if re-elected. Cheng stated, 'President Trump believes that European countries should pay a greater share of the costs associated with the conflict because the United States has paid so much more, which is unfair to our taxpayers.'
Proposed Peace Talks and Republican Resistance
In addition to calling for greater European financial involvement, two of Trump's advisers have outlined a concrete plan to end the war. Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleitz propose that Ukraine will only receive more US weapons if it enters into peace talks. They also suggest that the US should warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would lead to increased US support for Ukraine. This proposal, however, is expected to face resistance from within Trump's own Republican Party and has raised concerns among security experts in Kiev, who fear it could cement Russia's territorial gains.
Fleitz mentioned that Trump responded positively to the plan but did not agree with all its details. The Biden administration, on the other hand, criticized Trump for his perceived leniency towards Vladimir Putin. Biden campaign spokesman James Singer commented, 'Donald Trump praises Vladimir Putin at every opportunity, and he has made it clear that he will not oppose Putin or stand up for democracy.' Meanwhile, economic historian Harold James suggested that a Trump victory in the upcoming election would benefit Moscow in Ukraine negotiations, while a Trump defeat could open a window for peace.
- The dispute over the rules for the upcoming TV debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden has also been a topic of intense discussion. The 90-minute duel, set to be moderated by CNN star journalists Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, will have no audience and will see the microphones of the candidates muted when it's not their turn to speak. Both candidates are allowed to bring only a pen, a blank notepad, and water to their podiums.
