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Trump may nix arms shipments to Ukraine on first day as president if elected — media

Josh Rogin also argues that if the former president manages to win re-election, it will be difficult for the West to reach a consensus on the fate of Kiev's NATO bid

WASHINGTON, December 5. /TASS/. Former US President Donald Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, may cancel all arms supplies to Ukraine on his first day in office should he be elected, The Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin said.

"Trump could, on Day 1 of a second term, cancel all pending arms deliveries to Ukraine. But it would be harder to get Ukraine or NATO allies to send things back," the columnist writes. In his view, the US should therefore now accelerate arms deliveries to Kiev, as well as pre-position as many weapons and ammunition as possible in Eastern Europe. "Moving more arms closer to Ukraine now would have the added benefit of shoring up the security of European allies," he believes.

Rogin also argues that if the former president manages to win re-election, it will be difficult for the West to reach a consensus on the fate of Kiev's NATO bid. "If Trump returns, any NATO consensus on advancing Kiev’s bid would be unlikely," the columnist believes.

He suggested that the current US administration develop a long-term security support plan for Ukraine, similar to the 10-year plan for aid to Israel drawn up earlier by former US President Barack Obama. "This is especially needed because even if [US President Joe] Biden wins reelection, Trump-allied Republicans in Congress are sure to continue attempting to cut US assistance," the publication said. "Both Democratic and Republican leaders need to expand efforts to convince their constituents that aid to Ukraine is worth the money. [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky’s team, too, should broaden its US outreach beyond D.C.," Rogin believes. According to him, "no long-term Ukraine assistance effort will be sustainable without the continued support of Americans.".