Former President Trump said in a statement Tuesday that President Biden has “cancelled” military equipment that he has “packed, loaded and ready to ship” to Ukraine.
Trump said that while he was donating “anti-tank weapons” to Ukraine, Presidents Obama and Biden were handing out “quilts,” referring to humanitarian aid.
“Fake news media refuse to report that I was the one who very early and decisively handed over anti-tank fighters (Javelins) to Ukraine while Obama/Biden handed out blankets to big and open complaints,” the statement said. .
“Biden then stepped in and voided the remaining military hardware, which was packed, loaded and ready to ship. Now the fake media is trying to say that Trump did not give anything to Ukraine, and Biden was their great friend and gave them weapons. The dishonesty is so unbelievable. All I can do is report it!
Biden has repeatedly touted the $1 billion in security aid the US has provided to Ukraine over the past year. Lawmakers hope to include another $12 billion in aid to Ukraine in the annual spending bill to fund the government by the end of fiscal year 2022.
The Biden administration asked for $10 billion, but lawmakers settled on $12 billion. The funds will be used for humanitarian, security and economic needs to help Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.
Trump has also lashed out at Europe for failing to comply with Biden’s ban on Russian oil and gas imports.
Trump said that while he was handing out “anti-tank weapons” to Ukraine, Presidents Obama and Biden were handing out “blankets” referring to humanitarian aid.
“Biden then stepped in and canceled the remaining military hardware, which was packed, loaded and ready to ship,” Trump said.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade are testing JAVELIN anti-tank missile systems, recently provided by the US Army as a means of protection.
A Ukrainian soldier fires an NLAW anti-tank weapon during an exercise as part of the Joint Forces Operation in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, February 15.
“Just confirmed that most of Europe will not go along with the United States in a boycott of Russian oil and gas. As usual, the United States will be left alone, Europe will take advantage of them, as we protect them, while we read in fake news how everyone united under the leadership of Biden to fight Russia, ”he said.
Russian oil and gas accounts for about a third of Europe’s fuel resources.
All three recent US presidents refrained from helping Ukraine in one way or another.
In 2014, as the Ukrainian military fought to regain control of the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, they pleaded with Washington to send deadly aid, such as Javelin anti-tank missiles. Obama restrained himself and pledged to offer only non-lethal equipment such as bulletproof vests, night vision goggles and helmets.
In 2018, Trump agreed to provide Ukraine with $47 million worth of lethal weapons, including 210 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 37 launchers. Trump, still hesitant about the sale, considered Ukraine a corrupt country and reportedly insisted it needed to return the money to the US. The condition of the sale was that the anti-tankers were to be stored in western Ukraine, away from the conflict, to be used as a deterrent.
Refugees from Ukraine, who arrived in Krakow due to the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, in a temporary shelter inside a reception center organized in the former historic railway station building in Krakow, Poland.
Refugees from Ukraine arrive at the main railway station in Krakow, Poland on March 8.
In 2019, Trump ordered a freeze on a $400 million military aid package to Ukraine days before his call to President Volodymyr Zelensky where he asked the leader to investigate then-candidate Biden and his son Hunter. The aid was made public on September 11, after Democrats had already launched an impeachment inquiry.
And in December, it was reported that Biden had delayed a $200 million military aid package to allow more time for diplomacy with Russia as Vladimir Putin amassed troops on the border with Ukraine.
At the time, 22 House Democrats and Republicans wrote a letter calling on Biden to provide assistance that included Stinger and Javelin missiles, drones, electronic jamming, radar, ammunition and medical supplies.
As vice president in 2015, Biden warned Ukrainian officials that they could lose about $1 billion in loan guarantees if they didn’t fire Attorney General Viktor Shokin, citing his failure to investigate corruption in the country. Shokin and Trump alleged that Biden pressured Ukraine to fire the prosecutor general because he was investigating Burisma, where Hunter Biden was on the board of directors.