Fact-checking President Trump's claims on US financial support to Ukraine
As Ukraine and the US close in on a major agreement on the exploitation of minerals and rare earths on Ukrainian territory, President Donald Trump says the deal will allow the US to recuperate as much as $350 billion in money it has given Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Trump said: "We've spent 350 billion (...) We just gave them, whether it's 300 or 350 billion, nobody really knows. They can't even tell me the answer to that, means probably more than that."
He added that the American taxpayer "is going to get their money back" through the mooted minerals pact, which the president said could be worth $1 trillion.
But the figures cited by Trump eclipse the sums cited by his own federal government.
How much financial support has the US given Ukraine? Western allies provide Ukraine with a range of financial support, spanning humanitarian and development aid, military support as well as other financial allocations.
The assistance is designed to help prop up Ukraine's economy and give it the military power it needs to withstand Russia's invasion.
According to US federal government sources, Congress has passed five so-called 'supplemental appropriation acts' since the 2022 invasion, allocating $174.2 billion in funds for Ukraine.
Another US government tracker - which compiles data from over 20 oversight entities from across the government - puts the headline sum slightly higher at $182.8 billion. This is because the tracker also includes smaller donations made by other government agencies, such as the U.S. Agency for Global. Media (USAGM) or the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Of this, $182.8 billion pot, only $83.4 billion has been disbursed, with the remaining $99,4 billion either not yet committed or not yet approved for payment.
Other estimates provided by the Berlin-based Kiel institute for the World Economy put the headline figure of total US assistance at 114.15 billion (119.76 billion).
This is because of the Kiel Institute's methodology, which only considers support directly given to Ukraine. It excludes things like money used to replenish US weapon stocks following donations to Kyiv, or funds spent to help neighbouring countries welcome Ukrainian refugees.
Why are false claims Ukraine 'lost' US money circulating? In an interview with the news agency AP on February 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to react to the Trump administration’s freeze on US aid. The decision has affected a raft of Ukrainian projects, including those providing humanitarian assistance and support to war veterans.
Zelenskyy responded: "When I hear (...) that America has given Ukraine hundreds of billions - 177 (billion dollars) to be precise - (...) I tell you as the president of a country at war that we have received more than 75 billion.”
“That is, 100 billion (...) we never got,” the Ukrainian president went on, explaining that most of the aid given was received in the form of weapons.
Zelenskyy was pointing to the almost $100 billion that the US has earmarked but not yet disbursed to Ukraine. This number aligns with the US government’s figures.
He went on to say that the US had also contributed to the training of Ukrainian military personnel as well as humanitarian programmes. “But when they say that Ukraine during the war received two hundred billion in support, this is not true. I don't know where all this money is,” he said.
In the weeks since the interview was published by AP, Zelenskyy’s comments have been manipulated to suggest that Ukraine held on to the sum of $100 billion it says it did not receive. Some online users have falsely claimed the funding has been misused or laundered.
We found these claims circulating on X, Facebook and TikTok.
How does Trump say he will recuperate money spent on Ukraine? President Trump says the minerals deal reportedly signed between Washington and Kyiv on Wednesday would allow him to recover the financial assistance the US has spent so far.
According to media reports, the Trump administration initially demanded $500 billion ($524.2 billion) in revenues from the joint fund that would be set up under the deal.
That demand has now been dropped from the draft agreement, published in full by the Financial Times, and the text does not mention the value of the deal.
On Sunday, Ukrainian authorities said that around $350 billion of worth of Ukraine's critical minerals are in territories currently held by Russia in the east of the country.
"We have information that, unfortunately, there is about $350 billion worth of these useful critical materials in temporarily occupied territory," deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine in major escalation - the key developments
Trump turns on Starmer even as PM insists US vital to peace deal Trump 'pushing Ukraine towards capitulation' What military aid was the US giving Ukraine before Trump's pause? US poised to house first nuclear weapons in UK for 20 years JD Vance issues fresh Zelensky criticism as Trump pauses aid Russia sending ‘suicidal missions’ to Ukraine https://uk.yahoo.com/news/trump-military-aid-ukraine-zelensky-key-developments-083826025.html
Too many people are afraid to upset either of them.
Politicians? Yes.
Servicemen and ex-servicemen? No.
If World leaders, politicians, and the US press dont challenge him, they just go along with his alternative facts, where does that leave democracy? Have we ever had such an unreliable Leader of the Free World? Dont get me wrong, I know Ukraine are f....d without American support. They were discussing his Canadian, and Mexican tariffs this morning which came into effect today, but the consensus was that they might be gone by tonight. Who knows?
When Trump gets elected on a Domestic Policy that sounds appealing both to the US electorate and US Billionaires, US Democracy stands by and does nothing. Simply because in a Democracy, the 1 Man has had his 1 Vote.
When Trump announces a policy in Ukraine that alienates all of America's traditional Allies, that becomes more problematic. Particularly for Billionaires. Because they don't do much trade with Russia. And still less with Ukraine. But they do a lot of business with Europe-particularly Germany, the UK and France.
Look at sales of Tesla vehicles, for example. Fallen off a cliff in Europe. AI? China is undercutting the US offering by $Billions.
Then look at the "minerals" deal with Ukraine/Russia. A skilled President could have given some vague promises to get that through. And those minerals would have been extracted by, and for the benefit of, Billionaires. But he has overplayed his hand. Publicly (as opposed to privately) humiliated the man whose signature he wanted. And they needed.
Now his attack dog Vance has said that our Armed Forces are irrelevant. Including, of course, our Special Forces who have worked hand-in-hand with US Special Forces in (for example) Kuwait and Afghanistan. That would be the US Special Forces that any President relies on to keep him alive.
Right now, Trump really isn't looking to be anything other than expendable.
When Trump gets elected on a Domestic Policy that sounds appealing both to the US electorate and US Billionaires, US Democracy stands by and does nothing. Simply because in a Democracy, the 1 Man has had his 1 Vote.
When Trump announces a policy in Ukraine that alienates all of America's traditional Allies, that becomes more problematic. Particularly for Billionaires. Because they don't do much trade with Russia. And still less with Ukraine. But they do a lot of business with Europe-particularly Germany, the UK and France.
Look at sales of Tesla vehicles, for example. Fallen off a cliff in Europe. AI? China is undercutting the US offering by $Billions.
Then look at the "minerals" deal with Ukraine/Russia. A skilled President could have given some vague promises to get that through. And those minerals would have been extracted by, and for the benefit of, Billionaires. But he has overplayed his hand. Publicly (as opposed to privately) humiliated the man whose signature he wanted. And they needed.
Now his attack dog Vance has said that our Armed Forces are irrelevant. Including, of course, our Special Forces who have worked hand-in-hand with US Special Forces in (for example) Kuwait and Afghanistan. That would be the US Special Forces that any President relies on to keep him alive.
Right now, Trump really isn't looking to be anything other than expendable.
Well I wish they would expend him.
Trump, and Vance, the only two people in the world that I dislike more than Farage.
Fuming Andrew Neil erupts at JD Vance over 'random country' jibe
Mr Vance has sparked a backlash over criticism of a possible European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
In an interview he appeared to downplay the potential of "20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years" in monitoring any ceasefire.
His comments were widely perceived to be directed towards the UK and France, who have been leading European efforts to secure a peace deal between Russia and Kyiv.
In a post on X, veteran broadcaster Mr Neil said: "JD Vance dismissing Britain as 'some random country' which hasn't 'fought a war for 30/40 years' is beneath contempt.
Comments
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/jd-vance-issues-fresh-zelensky-criticism-as-trump-pauses-us-aid-to-ukraine/ar-AA1AbTCo?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W230&cvid=84144fc3188040e6a9a146be24295a0f&ei=73#fullscreen
As Ukraine and the US close in on a major agreement on the exploitation of minerals and rare earths on Ukrainian territory, President Donald Trump says the deal will allow the US to recuperate as much as $350 billion in money it has given Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Trump said: "We've spent 350 billion (...) We just gave them, whether it's 300 or 350 billion, nobody really knows. They can't even tell me the answer to that, means probably more than that."
He added that the American taxpayer "is going to get their money back" through the mooted minerals pact, which the president said could be worth $1 trillion.
But the figures cited by Trump eclipse the sums cited by his own federal government.
How much financial support has the US given Ukraine?
Western allies provide Ukraine with a range of financial support, spanning humanitarian and development aid, military support as well as other financial allocations.
The assistance is designed to help prop up Ukraine's economy and give it the military power it needs to withstand Russia's invasion.
According to US federal government sources, Congress has passed five so-called 'supplemental appropriation acts' since the 2022 invasion, allocating $174.2 billion in funds for Ukraine.
Another US government tracker - which compiles data from over 20 oversight entities from across the government - puts the headline sum slightly higher at $182.8 billion. This is because the tracker also includes smaller donations made by other government agencies, such as the U.S. Agency for Global. Media (USAGM) or the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Of this, $182.8 billion pot, only $83.4 billion has been disbursed, with the remaining $99,4 billion either not yet committed or not yet approved for payment.
Other estimates provided by the Berlin-based Kiel institute for the World Economy put the headline figure of total US assistance at 114.15 billion (119.76 billion).
This is because of the Kiel Institute's methodology, which only considers support directly given to Ukraine. It excludes things like money used to replenish US weapon stocks following donations to Kyiv, or funds spent to help neighbouring countries welcome Ukrainian refugees.
Why are false claims Ukraine 'lost' US money circulating?
In an interview with the news agency AP on February 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to react to the Trump administration’s freeze on US aid. The decision has affected a raft of Ukrainian projects, including those providing humanitarian assistance and support to war veterans.
Zelenskyy responded: "When I hear (...) that America has given Ukraine hundreds of billions - 177 (billion dollars) to be precise - (...) I tell you as the president of a country at war that we have received more than 75 billion.”
“That is, 100 billion (...) we never got,” the Ukrainian president went on, explaining that most of the aid given was received in the form of weapons.
Zelenskyy was pointing to the almost $100 billion that the US has earmarked but not yet disbursed to Ukraine. This number aligns with the US government’s figures.
He went on to say that the US had also contributed to the training of Ukrainian military personnel as well as humanitarian programmes. “But when they say that Ukraine during the war received two hundred billion in support, this is not true. I don't know where all this money is,” he said.
In the weeks since the interview was published by AP, Zelenskyy’s comments have been manipulated to suggest that Ukraine held on to the sum of $100 billion it says it did not receive. Some online users have falsely claimed the funding has been misused or laundered.
We found these claims circulating on X, Facebook and TikTok.
How does Trump say he will recuperate money spent on Ukraine?
President Trump says the minerals deal reportedly signed between Washington and Kyiv on Wednesday would allow him to recover the financial assistance the US has spent so far.
According to media reports, the Trump administration initially demanded $500 billion ($524.2 billion) in revenues from the joint fund that would be set up under the deal.
That demand has now been dropped from the draft agreement, published in full by the Financial Times, and the text does not mention the value of the deal.
On Sunday, Ukrainian authorities said that around $350 billion of worth of Ukraine's critical minerals are in territories currently held by Russia in the east of the country.
"We have information that, unfortunately, there is about $350 billion worth of these useful critical materials in temporarily occupied territory," deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/fact-checking-president-trumps-claims-151907866.html
Trump turns on Starmer even as PM insists US vital to peace deal
Trump 'pushing Ukraine towards capitulation'
What military aid was the US giving Ukraine before Trump's pause?
US poised to house first nuclear weapons in UK for 20 years
JD Vance issues fresh Zelensky criticism as Trump pauses aid
Russia sending ‘suicidal missions’ to Ukraine
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/trump-military-aid-ukraine-zelensky-key-developments-083826025.html
Moron.
Managing to unite the UK.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/jd-vance-calls-uk-some-random-country-that-hasn-t-fought-war-in-30-years/ar-AA1AcTkk?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=2e364f4251594d34ab4b09bf631601c3&ei=58
Because that is truly offensive.
https://x.com/QwertyDee_/status/1896692903507902596?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1896692903507902596|twgr^65077f336b1744b06410c3ff0b14712e8bbe3426|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/265804/donald-trump?page=243
Servicemen and ex-servicemen? No.
Have we ever had such an unreliable Leader of the Free World?
Dont get me wrong, I know Ukraine are f....d without American support.
They were discussing his Canadian, and Mexican tariffs this morning which came into effect today, but the consensus was that they might be gone by tonight.
Who knows?
When Trump gets elected on a Domestic Policy that sounds appealing both to the US electorate and US Billionaires, US Democracy stands by and does nothing. Simply because in a Democracy, the 1 Man has had his 1 Vote.
When Trump announces a policy in Ukraine that alienates all of America's traditional Allies, that becomes more problematic. Particularly for Billionaires. Because they don't do much trade with Russia. And still less with Ukraine. But they do a lot of business with Europe-particularly Germany, the UK and France.
Look at sales of Tesla vehicles, for example. Fallen off a cliff in Europe. AI? China is undercutting the US offering by $Billions.
Then look at the "minerals" deal with Ukraine/Russia. A skilled President could have given some vague promises to get that through. And those minerals would have been extracted by, and for the benefit of, Billionaires. But he has overplayed his hand. Publicly (as opposed to privately) humiliated the man whose signature he wanted. And they needed.
Now his attack dog Vance has said that our Armed Forces are irrelevant. Including, of course, our Special Forces who have worked hand-in-hand with US Special Forces in (for example) Kuwait and Afghanistan. That would be the US Special Forces that any President relies on to keep him alive.
Right now, Trump really isn't looking to be anything other than expendable.
Trump, and Vance, the only two people in the world that I dislike more than Farage.
Mr Vance has sparked a backlash over criticism of a possible European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
In an interview he appeared to downplay the potential of "20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years" in monitoring any ceasefire.
His comments were widely perceived to be directed towards the UK and France, who have been leading European efforts to secure a peace deal between Russia and Kyiv.
In a post on X, veteran broadcaster Mr Neil said: "JD Vance dismissing Britain as 'some random country' which hasn't 'fought a war for 30/40 years' is beneath contempt.
"British forces fought alongside US troops in Iraq (twice) and Afghanistan. In recent years. Is he stupid? Or just ignorant?"
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/fuming-andrew-neil-erupts-at-jd-vance-over-random-country-jibe/ar-AA1AewYX?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W230&cvid=db06d5853d914e40b41bed43e5a1f837&ei=16#fullscreen
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/americans-flock-to-apply-for-uk-citizenship-despite-jd-vance-s-some-random-country-jibe/ar-AA1Aet1o?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W230&cvid=764f3721824e440f910de1ae339a59a4&ei=53#fullscreen
Incredible.
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/irony-dead-trumps-most-outrageous-045339329.html
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/trump-delivers-gloating-grievance-filled-044414255.html