Topline
Former President Donald Trump during his presidency said he believed Ukraine “must be part of Russia,” his former adviser Fiona Hill reportedly said in a new book—statements that seemingly echo Russian President Vladimir Putin’s views as Trump-aligned Republicans in Congress continue to block additional U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Key Facts
The former president “made it very clear that he thought, you know, that Ukraine, and certainly Crimea, must be part of Russia,” Hill, who served as senior director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council under Trump, is quoted as saying in the upcoming book “New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West” by New York Times reporter David Sanger, The Guardian reported.
Trump’s alleged comments mirror the views of Putin, who said in a speech last month that parts of Ukraine occupied by Russia were part of a “new Russia.”
The revelations reportedly disclosed by Hill come as additional aid to Ukraine is stalled in Congress amid resistance from Trump’s allies.
Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
Key Background
Trump has repeatedly praised Putin and claimed he would end the war within 24 hours if he were elected again, while suggesting that such a deal could involve Ukraine ceding some of its territory to Russia—despite Ukrainian officials repeatedly saying that idea is a non-starter. He drew widespread outrage in February when he said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to North Atlantic Treaty Organization members who don’t meet minimum spending requirements.
Tangent
Hill was a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment trial, when she debunked the GOP narrative that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that meddled in the 2016 election and corroborated allegations that Trump attempted to pressure Ukraine to investigate Hunter Biden.
What To Watch For
Whether the House will approve additional aid to Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has expressed support for an aid package, but has been unable to move the legislation through Congress amid pressure from right-wing lawmakers.
Big Number
36%. That’s the share of Americans who believe the U.S. is doing too much to help Ukraine, compared to 41% who say it’s not doing enough, according to a Gallup poll released Friday that found support for Ukraine has grown since a November Gallup poll, when 41% said they believed the U.S. was doing too much to support Ukraine, while 25% said it wasn’t doing enough.
Further Reading
Putin Says He’d Prefer ‘Experienced, Predictable’ Biden Over Trump (Forbes)
Aid For Israel And Ukraine Moves Forward In Senate—But Opposition From Right (And Trump) Looms (Forbes)