Trump promises to maintain aid to Kyiv, doubts Ukraine’s restoring 2014 borders

United States President Donald Trump said at a press conference at the White House on February 12 that Ukraine would continue to receive aid "because otherwise Putin would think he won." However, he noted that "the money has to be secured." The American leader also said that it was unlikely that Ukraine would restore its 2014 borders.

Voice of America and The Washington Post report this.

US pledges ongoing support for Ukraine

Trump assured that he would continue to provide aid to Ukraine because otherwise, "Putin would think he won."

Speaking to reporters after telephone conversations with the Russian dictator and the president of Ukraine, Trump said that the meeting date with Putin had not yet been set, but the meetings would take place "both here and there."

He said the first talks would probably take place in Saudi Arabia in the "not too distant future."

When asked by journalists about aid to Ukraine, the US president stressed that "but the money must be secured." Trump accused the former administration of "senselessly" transferring money to Ukraine, and he plans to receive guarantees of the return of the money.

"Our money will be secured. They have rare earths [metals, – ed.], they have oil, gas, and much more, and we ask that our money be secured," Trump said, adding that "the Ukrainians agreed to this."

The US president claims that Ukraine has received $350 billion in aid from Washington.

According to the Pentagon, since the beginning of the Joe Biden administration, the US has allocated more than $ 66.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

Trump also said that, in his opinion, Europe has provided Ukraine with $100 billion in loans. According to the Pentagon, the Ramstein group's assistance since April 2022 has amounted to more than $126 billion.

In addition, Trump agreed with the Pentagon's head, Pete Hegseth, that Ukraine's accession to NATO is not realistic.

"I agree with that. I don't think it's practical," the US president said.

Return of occupied territories of Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said that it is unlikely that Ukraine will restore its 2014 borders.

The Washington Post notes that Trump allegedly suggested that Ukraine would have to cede territory to Russia to end the war.

"It seems to me that … I don't express my opinion on this, but I've read a lot about it, and a lot of people think that it's unlikely [the return of all the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia – ed.]," Trump said.

"Some of it will come back. I think some of it will come back. Yes, some of these territories [occupied by Russia – ed.] will come back," he added.

It should be noted that the new US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, stated that returning Ukraine's borders to those that existed before 2014 is not a realistic goal and that the United States does not consider Ukraine's membership in NATO to be a realistic outcome of a peaceful resolution of the war.

For reference:

As reported, on February 12, US President Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. They discussed, among other things, the war in Ukraine.

After that, Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the head of state, he and Trump agreed to contact further and meet.

Trump repeated the Pentagon chief's thesis that the US considers Ukraine's membership in NATO "impractical." At the same time, the American president noted that the United States will continue to assist Ukraine, "but we want it to be safe."

According to the United States Department of State, President Donald Trump's special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, will visit Germany, Belgium, and Ukraine from February 13 to 22 to discuss with allies ways to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Recently, Trump's special envoy said that the United States already has a "good, solid plan" to end the war in Ukraine.