Former US President Donald Trump has not been shy about his opinion on the new US aid package to Ukraine.
The US government has voted to allocate $61 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, a decision strongly criticized by Trump during a meeting with Republican lawmakers in Congress. US House of Representatives member Matt Gaetz reported Trump's comments on the social network X.
"Trump on Ukraine: 'They will never be near us,'" Gaetz quoted.
According to Gaetz, Trump argued that the US should prioritize increasing pay for its military personnel instead of sending billions of dollars to Ukraine.
"Trump criticizing aid to Ukraine directly to Speaker Mike Johnson's face is epic," Gaetz added.
This meeting marks Trump's first visit to Capitol Hill since the events of January 6, 2021, when around 2,000 people stormed the Capitol Building.
Throughout his tenure and afterward, Trump has consistently expressed skepticism about providing additional US aid to Ukraine, believing that supporting Kyiv is not a vital interest for Washington.
In April, President Joe Biden signed a package of bills approved by Congress for additional financial assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
These measures have caused a split among Republican congressmen. Some members believe that House Speaker Mike Johnson followed the White House's lead without considering the interests of the Republican Party.
