Trump Suspends Aid to Ukraine
President Trump pauses aid to Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy is proving a terrible diplomat in the Trump era. Yesterday he said the end of the war probably “is still very, very far away.” Why say such a thing, knowing President Trump is eager for a peace deal? Smart diplomacy would strive for favorable terms but work hard to make the failure of any peace deal Russia’s fault, not Ukraine’s.
The statement confirmed in Trump’s mind that Zelenskyy doesn’t want peace. In response, last night he paused all U.S. military aid to Ukraine. “President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace,” a White House official explained. “We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” It isn’t canceled, and intel sharing continues, but this is a major warning to Ukraine.
European leaders were hyperventilating about the move, but then:
Trump exposed EU hypocrisy: The president posted this on Truth Social yesterday: “Europe has spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine—BY FAR!”
It’s true. The Guardian wrote last week, “EU member states bought [over $23 billion] of Russian oil and gas in the third year of the war, according to estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea), despite the efforts under way to kick the Continent’s addiction to the fuels that fund Vladimir Putin’s war chest.
“The amount is one sixth greater than the [less than $20 billion] the EU allocated to Ukraine in financial aid in 2024, according to a tracker from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.”
One coauthor of the Kiel report said, “Purchasing Russian fossil fuels is, quite plainly, akin to sending financial aid to the Kremlin and enabling its invasion.” That is uncomfortable truth.
Read our feature story in this Morning Brief, “German Optics Firm Supplies Russia With Military-Grade Sights,” by Andrew Miiller, for more evidence of Europe’s support for Russia in its war. Yes, Donald Trump is pausing aid to Ukraine. But at least he isn’t aiding the enemy.
EU announces $842 billion Rearm program: This morning, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe has entered “an era of rearmament.” She announced a comprehensive plan to bolster the European Union’s military capabilities: the “Rearm Europe Plan.” It aims to raise about €800 billion (US$840 billion) for defense spending and enable member states to rapidly, substantially enhance their military capabilities. Von der Leyen emphasized that Europe is prepared to significantly boost defense spending to support Ukraine in the short term and take greater responsibility for its own security in the long term.
This plan will make it easier for the EU to borrow money to spend on defense, but it’s not transformational. The reality is, no big step can be taken without Germany, and Germany still doesn’t have a government.
Europe is talking tough about defending Ukraine right now. But there are several reasons why the talk rings hollow. In the end, Bible prophecy indicates that the Europeans will use all this military spending for its own interests, and that doesn’t include defending Ukraine. Watch for a feature article at theTrumpet.com soon from Richard Palmer explaining why Europe isn’t going to save Ukraine.
Tariffs begin: President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday slapping 25 percent tariffs on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico, starting today, and doubling the import tax on Chinese goods to 20 percent. The administration says the measure is needed to combat illegal immigration, drug trafficking and the influx of fentanyl into the U.S.
In retaliation, Canada announced 25 percent tariffs on about $155 billion worth of U.S. goods, and China put tariffs on key U.S. agricultural products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, effective next week.
Economists say prices for Americans could go up, especially in vehicles and electronics. The Trade Foundation estimates U.S. GDP could shrink by 0.3 percent. Major stock indices have dropped because of the escalating trade tensions. Potential effects on international trade and the global economy are wide-ranging.
The Bible foretells the ultimate outcome of these growing tensions: Unless America repents, Europe and China will unite to exclude the U.S. from global trade. America may score some successes along the way, but without a change of course, it is heading toward a full-scale trade war—one it is destined to lose. During Mr. Trump’s previous term, we explored the implications of this conflict in our article “Spiraling Into Trade War.”
