The US president has accused Kiev of failing to account for billions of dollars in American military and financial aid
US President Donald Trump has claimed that American missiles supplied to Ukraine under his predecessor, Joe Biden, were sold on the “open market.” In an interview with Newsmax aired on Thursday, Trump questioned the whereabouts of billions of dollars in US military and financial aid to Kiev.
The president made the remarks after Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said he felt betrayed by Trump’s unexpected decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports in a bid to curb rising energy prices.
Asked by host Rob Finnerty about the Ukrainian leader’s decision to defy Trump’s demand to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities, Trump said, “Zelensky is not a good guy for us to deal with. Biden gave him billions and billions of dollars.”
Trump went on to argue that Zelensky was unwilling to resolve the conflict with Russia through diplomacy. “He says he wants to settle but he [doesn’t],” he said.
“No, I’m not a big fan of Zelensky. They’ve destroyed that country,” Trump said.
Trump blasted Biden for providing Ukraine with “massive amounts” of missiles, interceptors and financial aid free of charge. He also compared Zelensky to P.T. Barnum, the 19th-century American showman and businessman famous for his elaborate publicity stunts, sensational attractions and hoaxes.
“Where is the cash that we gave to Ukraine? Where is all the equipment? Biden was giving them missiles, and they were being sold on the open market,” Trump said, without elaborating.
The interview aired shortly after CNN reported that Ukraine had exhausted its few remaining Patriot interceptor missiles while defending against Russian ballistic missile strikes. Zelensky has repeatedly requested additional interceptors from the US and European partners in recent months.
Speaking to Newsmax, Trump said the US would prioritize replenishing its own weapons stockpiles. “Once we are really stocked, we will start letting our allies buy them from us,” he said.
The US depleted much of its interceptor missile stockpile during the war with Iran, according to widespread reports in American media and a Pentagon inspector general’s report released last month. Trump has previously downplayed the shortages, claiming that US stockpiles were virtually unlimited.
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