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Donald Trump claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 6, shortly before crossing the threshold of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win.
"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president," Trump said in an address to a cheering crowd in West Palm Beach, Florida.
"I will not rest until I have delivered a strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve," the Republican nominee said, promising a "golden age of America."
His return to the White House could spell uncertain times for Ukraine, as there are fears he might withdraw support for the besieged country and cut a deal with the Kremlin.
Trump made no mention of Russia's war against Ukraine in his speech but said that the U.S. saw "no wars" during his first presidential term.
Owen Racer
"We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS," Trump proclaimed.
"They said ‘he will start a war.’ I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop the wars."
"I think we’ve just witnessed the greatest political comeback in American history," Trump's running mate J.D. Vance said to the crowd of Republican voters.
In his only debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic Party nominee, on Sept. 10, Trump refused to say he wanted a Ukrainian victory.
"I think it's the U.S.'s best interest to get this war finished and just get it done, negotiate a deal," Trump said.
Trump's plan to end the war within "24 hours" and get the U.S. "out" of Ukraine, would benefit Russia by ceding Ukrainian territory and creating autonomous regions in the east, according to reporting in October.
"Trump's view is he wants to do everything he can to help Putin because for whatever reason he likes these strong men, he's fascinated by him in particular," Evelyn Farkas, the executive director of the McCain Institute, said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.
"So, it will take all the will and the fighting of people under him to maintain the existing policy of support for Ukraine and an opposition to Russia's autocratic agenda."
If Trump does slash U.S. aid to Ukraine, the American economy will take a hit. The U.S. defense industrial base has received over $50 billion in investment due to America's support of Ukraine, with billions sent to states that helped Trump secure the White House again like Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida.
"Trump and Vance have made getting assistance to Ukraine difficult," Representative Gregory Meeks, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement to the Kyiv Independent.
"We have no indication their approach will change, but a Democratic-controlled Congress can work across the aisle to push for that support."
President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump on his expected victory in the U.S. presidential election, voicing hopes for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."
Martin Fornusek
