KYIV: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived Saturday in Kyiv to reassure Ukraine of Europe\u2019s backing in the first visit by a top Brussels official after Donald Trump\u2019s poll win.
\nThe volatile Republican\u2019s victory in the United States election has set nerves jangling in Ukraine and Europe that Trump could end Washington\u2019s support for Kyiv\u2019s fight against Russia\u2019s invasion.
\n\u201cThe message is a clear one \u2014 the Europeans will continue to support Ukraine,\u201d Borrell, who is set to leave office next month, told an AFP journalist accompanying him.
\n\u201cWe have been supporting Ukraine since the beginning, and on this my last visit to Ukraine, I convey the same message, we will support you as much as we can.\u201d
\nOn the campaign trail, Trump cast doubt on maintaining the vast US military and financial aid to Ukraine and said he could cut a quick deal to end the war.
\n\u201cNobody knows exactly what the new administration is going to do,\u201d Borrell said, pointing out that incumbent Joe Biden still has two months in power to make decisions.
\n\u201cBut we Europeans have to use this opportunity in order to build a stronger and united Europe, and one of the manifestations of being united and being stronger and able to act is our role in supporting Ukraine.\u201d
\nEurope together has spent around $125 billion on supporting Ukraine since Russia\u2019s 2022 invasion, while the United States alone has coughed up more than $90 billion, according to a tracker from the Kiel Institute.
\nKeeping the US, Ukraine\u2019s single biggest donor, on board is seen by most as key for ensuring Kyiv stays afloat, especially at a time of political uncertainty in major European powers Germany and France.
\nOn the battlefield, Ukraine\u2019s fatigued troops are struggling to stave off Russia\u2019s advances as they approach three years of full-scale combat.
\nBorrell, who will meet top Ukrainian officials on his visit, said it was up to EU countries to decide \u201cwhen and how to increase\u201d their support if needed.
\nBut he said that at a meeting of EU leaders in Budapest Friday \u201cmost of the member states were insisting on the same line, continue supporting Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KYIV: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived Saturday in Kyiv to reassure Ukraine of Europe\u2019s backing in the first visit by a top Brussels official after Donald Trump\u2019s poll win. The volatile Republican\u2019s victory in the United States election has set nerves jangling in Ukraine and Europe that Trump could end Washington\u2019s support for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":442579,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-442569","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n