Photo: Ukrainian Pravda
Ukraine has to wait for the moment when former US President Donald Trump realises that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has “zeroed out” his reputation – after that, support for Ukraine with arms will be significantly intensified. This was stated by Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in an interview published by RBC-Ukraine on Wednesday, 16 April.
According to Podoliak, the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine is not only a political issue, but primarily an economic one, and this explains the pragmatic approach of the Ukrainian side to the United States.
“The President of Ukraine is addressing the United States and saying in a purely pragmatic way: let’s buy weapons from you. For American manufacturers, who are donors to the Republican Party, Ukraine’s participation in the war against Russia is beneficial because it increases profits and strengthens their positions in the global market,” he said.
Business above political rhetoric
Despite Trump’s public statements, Podoliak is convinced that the logic of the American political system and the interests of the US military-industrial complex mean that weapons will be sold to Ukraine – and in full.
“Trump can make all kinds of loud statements, but selling weapons, especially those that are now effectively countering Russia’s, which is its direct competitor, is beneficial from all sides,” he stressed.
“As soon as Trump realises that Putin has betrayed him…”
According to the OP adviser, the key factor will be a change in Donald Trump’s personal perception of his relationship with Putin.
“As soon as Mr Trump realises that Putin has zeroed in on his reputation – all these illusory agreements that allegedly existed in the economic or political sphere – he will significantly accelerate the supply of weapons to inflict maximum damage on Russia on the battlefield,” Podoliak concluded.
Context: Ukraine is ready to buy $50 billion worth of weapons
Last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is ready to buy $50bn worth of US arms. These supplies are seen not only as support in the fight against Russia, but also as part of long-term security guarantees for the state.
Against this backdrop, Trump’s position, which tries to manoeuvre between isolationist rhetoric and the interests of the US defence business, is increasingly the subject of Kyiv’s scrutiny.
