US presidential elections will affect Washington's assistance to Kyiv - Kurt Volker

Volker said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

Kurt Volker emphasized that the US presidential election will have an impact on Washington's assistance to Kyiv.

"Since we will have a presidential election next year, our attention will be divided. Therefore, I believe that the counteroffensive in Ukraine will prompt another wave of assistance this year, so that we can avoid dealing with such distractions during our presidential election. Ukraine's success in the counteroffensive will also serve as motivation for the US to continue providing even greater support," Volker stated.

He cautioned that Ukrainians should be prepared for debates among American politicians regarding aid to Kyiv.

"The people of Ukraine need to be prepared. In a democracy, open debates occur, and there will be individuals advocating for reductions in aid to Ukraine. They may claim that Ukraine is corrupt, that funds are being misused, or that there are no reports. You must be prepared for this. However, it is important to remember that, overall, the USA supports Ukraine, and this support will persist both during and after the presidential elections," Volker emphasized.

He further noted the need to strive for reducing Ukraine's dependence on foreign aid in the future but stressed that support must continue for now.

"In the short term, we have not reached that point yet. Therefore, assistance must continue, both in terms of military aid and economic support. I am confident that this support will not only come from the United States but also from our European allies," Volker asserted.

• On May 21, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her belief that if Donald Trump wins the presidential elections in 2024, it will result in Ukraine's defeat in the war against the Russian Federation.