Kyiv's allies closer to home may have to step in to help in the fight against Russian aggression now that Donald Trump has been reelected, the former commanding general of the United States Army Europe has told Newsweek.
The comments by retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges come as speculation mounts over how Trump will approach the war when he enters the White House, given his criticism of Washington's military aid for Kyiv and insistence he can end the war in a day.
"Based on what he did with Ukraine and Russia in his first term, and on what he's said the past couple of years, I am not hopeful that the Trump administration will develop and pursue a strong, effective comprehensive strategy to help Ukraine win and to protect the so-called international rules-based order," Hodges said.
"However, I must say that the Biden administration also failed to do that."
Newsweek has contacted Trump representatives via email for comment.
Hodges has repeatedly criticized delays by President Joe Biden's administration in providing Ukraine with arms such as ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) with full capabilities. Hodges has said that long-range weapons are essential, for example in enabling Kyiv to retake Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
"Europe will have to assume that the U.S. will not continue its support at the current level under a President Trump and will, therefore, have to take on the full burden," Hodges said.
"U.S. failure to help Ukraine and walking away only means that the risk of further Russian aggression increases," Hodges told Newsweek. "Europe will have to rise to the challenge. It has the combined industrial capacity and resources, but so far lacks the combined political will."
There is speculation over how the Biden administration will help Ukraine before Trump takes office on January 20, 2025, nearly three years after the war started with some saying that it should add urgency to U.S. assistance.
The White House plans to rush billions of dollars in security assistance in the coming weeks as Washington looks to put Kyiv "in the strongest position possible," according to unnamed sources cited by Reuters and Politico.
There are also calls for the U.S. to drop its prohibition on long-range weapons being used to strike targets deep inside Russian territory for fear of escalation.
Hodges does not oppose either move by the U.S., "but it cannot replace a robust strategy that explains what we are trying to accomplish in the region, with our support to Ukraine. The failure to do this so far has resulted in failed policies and intermittent support."
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About the writer
Brendan Cole
Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. His focus is Russia and Ukraine, in particular ...
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