Ukrainian MP named a likely scenario in the absence of US aid to Ukraine
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Ukraine
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Ukrainian MP named a likely scenario in the absence of US aid to Ukraine

Joe Biden

The Verkhovna Rada plans to reduce budget expenditures if the United States does not agree to allocate funds for further assistance to Ukraine.

What is known about the scenario in the absence of US aid

According to the head of the parliamentary committee on budgetary policy, Roksolana Pidlasa, Ukraine will have to survive January with a significant reduction in budget expenditures due to the lack of US aid.

However, she believes that the reason for optimism is the preservation of bipartisan support in the US Congress.

According to Pidlasa, the most realistic scenario is the approval of further aid to Ukraine by the end of this year.

Undoubtedly, there are some radical Republicans who do not support Ukraine and believe that it is necessary to reduce support, but all congressmen who analyze the situation understand that the funds directed to the military support of Ukraine mostly remain in the United States, the budget committee chief emphasized.

She explained that the funds allocated to help Ukraine are mainly used to support defense production in the US.

In particular, as Pidlasa noted, not a single MANPADS Stinger has been produced in the US since 2005, and only after the US began supplying them to Ukraine, the Pentagon signed a $624 million contract for their production to replace those in storage sent to our country.

Even if by the end of the year a decision on the provision of funds from the USA is not made, we will manage in January. And the state budget will be fulfilled. But here it is necessary to understand that this concerns financing not only from the USA, but also from all international partners of Ukraine. If we have an underfunding of the state budget, that is, the deficit will not be fully covered, it will mean a big reduction in state budget expenditures, the budget committee chief warned.

Under this pessimistic scenario, those expenses will be reduced currently directed to support Ukraine's economy.

In particular, all capital expenditures, all business support programs will be reduced. If there is not enough funding, then there can be no talk of any recovery in 2024 either. In addition, of course, we will continue to talk about the redirection of taxes from the local level to the level of the state budget so that we can ensure the fulfillment of all our obligations to the employees of the budget sphere, regarding social payments, Pidlasa warned.

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World
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Switzerland may organize Trump-Putin meeting — what is known

Switzerland may organize Trump-Putin meeting — what is known
Source:  Tages-Anzeiger

Switzerland has expressed its willingness to organize a meeting between US President-elect Donald Trump, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and representatives of Ukraine to discuss ending the war. The talks are being held in a trilateral format.

Points of attention

  • Switzerland expresses readiness to organize a meeting between Trump, Putin, and representatives of Ukraine to discuss the end of the war in a trilateral format.
  • Trump's possible meeting with Putin in Switzerland is a key step in diplomatic efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region.
  • Switzerland is seen only as a potential venue for negotiations and has no intention of initiating the meeting itself, but is ready to facilitate peace initiatives.
  • Trump and Putin have jointly announced their intention to hold a meeting to end the war, and all the details of this event are already being discussed.
  • The talks between Zelensky and Trump on December 7, 2024, were a harbinger of a possible meeting of the leaders and demonstrated the complexity of the political situation in the region.

What is known about possible negotiations in Switzerland?

As the publication notes, Switzerland is ready to host a summit between Trump and Putin if the parties take such an initiative.

According to Nicolas Bidault, head of the information service of the Swiss Foreign Ministry, the country has long demonstrated its willingness to support diplomatic efforts for peace.

"After the Bürgenstock summit (Global Peace Summit on Ukraine, June 2024), Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have regularly informed us of our readiness to facilitate any peace initiatives," Bideau noted.

The publication emphasizes that Switzerland is only considered a potential venue for negotiations and is not going to initiate the meeting itself. It also reports that Switzerland is one of several countries that could organize such a summit.

Trump announces meeting with Putin

The future head of the White House announced that preparations are currently underway for his meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

As the Republican noted, it was Putin who first expressed a desire to meet.

Donald Trump has not yet named a specific date for the talks, but stressed that all points are already being discussed.

"He wants to meet, and we're preparing for it... President Putin wants to meet. He's even said it publicly, and we have to end this war," Trump added, referring to Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.

What is important to understand is that the negotiations between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump took place on December 7, 2024.

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