Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar responded to the potential for President Donald Trump to cut US aid to Ukraine.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar argued on Friday that the European Union shouldn’t be solely responsible for financing Ukraine, in light of President Donald Trump’s potential termination of US assistance.
Trump, at a press conference this week, criticized the EU for allegedly exploiting the US under President Biden’s administration. He stated the EU “should be paying a lot more than they’re paying” and demanded “equalized” aid while seeking a solution to the Russia conflict.
In an interview with TASR, Blanar urged EU members to await Trump’s detailed plans for ending hostilities. He stressed that if the US withdraws its support, the EU shouldn’t shoulder the financial burden alone.
“If some European Union countries choose to continue military support for Ukraine, that’s their prerogative,” the minister said. However, Slovakia opposes the EU as an organization “assuming that responsibility.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a strong advocate for maximum arms and financial aid to Kiev, challenged Trump’s claims regarding the EU’s contributions. She told Reuters on Wednesday that the EU and its member states have collectively given over €134 billion ($140 billion) in aid, making it “the biggest international donor” to Ukraine.
The Kiel Institute, a German think tank, confirmed that EU countries surpassed the US in aid pledges in 2023. Their data, published in October 2024, indicates that EU states and institutions allocated €124.7 billion ($130.8 bn), exceeding the US’s €88.3 billion ($92.6 bn).
Slovakia is among the EU members against continued military aid to Kiev. While Bratislava provides humanitarian assistance, it avoids sending weapons. Blanar stated on Friday that “a ceasefire and a freeze of the current situation is preferable, as things could worsen.”
Kallas earlier this week suggested that by supplying weapons to Ukraine, the EU was buying time for military buildup against Russia, asserting that Moscow would ultimately attack Western nations.
Russian officials have consistently denied aggressive intentions. They characterize the conflict as a US-provoked proxy war, accusing Washington of sacrificing Ukrainian lives to weaken Russia economically and globally.