LIVE – War in Ukraine: after Trump's victory, the European Union recalls its “unwavering” support for kyiv

The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, assured Ukraine of Brussels' “unwavering support” on Saturday, on the occasion of the first visit by a senior European official to kyiv since Donald Trump's victory in the American presidential election. “The clear objective of this visit is to express the European Union's support for Ukraine – this support remains unwavering,” Josep Borrell, who is due to leave office next month, told the press.

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Donald Trump's victory is causing concern in Ukraine and Europe, who fear that it will end Washington's vital military and financial support for kyiv in its fight against the Russian invasion. During his campaign, Donald Trump questioned the continuation of this aid and declared that he could reach a rapid agreement to end the war. “No one knows exactly what the new administration is going to do”Josep Borrell said on Saturday, emphasizing that outgoing US President Joe Biden still has two months in power to make decisions.

For months, kyiv has been asking its allies to authorize it to strike Russia with long-range weapons supplied by the West. But the latter refuse for fear of a new military escalation. But, according to Borrell, Russian President Vladimir Putin “does not want negotiations and will only negotiate if he is forced to do so.” Since the 2022 Russian invasion, Europe has spent around $125 billion to support Ukraine, while the United States alone has shelled out more than $90 billion, according to a study by the Kiel Institute.