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Donald Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, has made his position on Ukraine clear: he “doesn’t really care” about what happens there.
The Ohio senator, who was nominated Monday as the Republican vice presidential nominee, made the comments on an episode of Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast just days before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Since then, the 39-year-old has tried to block millions of dollars in government aid to Ukraine and criticized the Biden administration’s focus on the invasion.
Experts say the nation’s war effort could suffer a major setback if Vance is elected Trump’s vice president in November.
Vance and Trump will likely try to block future aid to Ukraine.
Mark Temnicky, an adjunct fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, told Business Insider that Trump and Vance would likely try to block or reduce US aid if elected in November.
“As the United States reduces its support and engagement, Ukraine will have to rely even more heavily on European support and engagement,” Temnitsky said.
An anonymous EU official Politico He said Vance’s appointment was a “disaster” for Ukraine and the European Union, which continues to support the country.
The EU has contributed 88 billion euros (about $95.7 billion), according to its website. Economic, humanitarian and military aid Since the invasion began.
Meanwhile, the United States had sent $175 billion in aid to Ukraine as of May. Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Vance 18 Senators He voted against a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel in April.
Though the bill was ultimately approved, Vance told reporters that “it’s pretty clear to Europe and the rest of the world that the United States cannot write a blank check indefinitely.” Politico.
Speaking on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast in February 2022, he said: “I’m tired of Joe Biden focusing on the borders of countries I don’t care about, while turning his own border into an all-out war zone.”
Vance’s criticism echoes comments made by Trump in May, when he said: The war can be ended within 24 hours. If he becomes president.
“He basically agrees with Trump. That’s why neocon donors [who want more aid for Ukraine] Fear him,” Tucker Carlson said. Axios on tuesday.
At a campaign rally in Detroit in June, Trump criticized the size of US financial aid to Ukraine.
“He just left four days ago with $60 billion, then he comes back and declares he needs another $60 billion. It’s never going to end,” he was reported as saying of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Politico.
Will Vance’s views change once he takes office?
Still, experts say it’s difficult to gauge where Vance and Trump stand before they enter the White House.
Sergey Samrenyi, founder of the German think tank Centre for European Resilience Initiatives, told BI that no scenario is impossible.
“Simply put, no one knows. No one knows because there’s nothing they can do,” he said.
“Vance is known for constantly changing positions. He was once a staunch opponent of President Trump and is now vice president,” he added.
“Vance is strongly opposed to Ukraine but has never held the top position. As vice president we hope his views will change,” said Melinda Harring, senior adviser to US-based charity Razorm for Ukraine. Reuters.
The role of the vice president should not be overestimated.
Tom Packer, an honorary fellow at the American Studies Institute at University College London, said Vance could have a great deal of influence over Trump as vice president, but his role should not be overestimated.
“The vice president has very little power,” he told BI.
While Vance is “clearly anti-interventionist and wants to back away from some of the hardline confrontations with Russia,” the vice president’s job is not to “control foreign policy.”
“Vance does not make foreign policy decisions,” Packer said.
Andrew Payne, a lecturer in foreign policy and security at City, University of London, made similar remarks.
“It’s important not to overestimate the vice president’s role in foreign affairs,” he told BI.
He said very few vice presidents in modern times have played a meaningful role in shaping foreign policy, with the most notable exceptions being Walter Mondale and Dick Cheney.
“But in both cases, Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush proved willing to delegate power in ways that were seemingly anathema to President Trump’s ‘only I can solve the problem’ leadership style,” he said.
Still, Vance’s nomination not only as Trump’s running mate but also as the heir to his MAGA political empire is a signal for the future of Republican policy.
A more moderate view on foreign policing, such as Sen. Marco Rubio, would likely have worried Ukraine supporters, and a running mate with a cautious policy toward Ukraine could have offered a conciliatory offer to the few remaining Reagan-era conservatives who vehemently oppose Russian aggression.
But by selecting Vance, Trump is doubling down on his efforts to reshape the Republican Party to fit his own policies, including his isolationist platform.