Slutsky: Trump’s decision on military aid to Ukraine related to concern for budget funds

Head of the Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky commented on Politico report that U.S. President Donald Trump had instructed his administration to review the military aid to Ukraine.

According to him, Trump probably wants to make sure that taxpayer funds for military aid to Ukraine earmarked from the budget are used for their designated purpose and not stolen.

At the same time, Slutskyy said that commenting on media leaks is a thankless task. But if the information provided by Politico is reliable, Trump’s order "can be related to both internal and external factors," he noted. 

The MP also recalled that "reports with negative assessments of the current state of the Ukrainian armed forces were beginning to appear in U.S. media outlets". According to him, the corruption factor in Ukraine plays a substantial role."

 It is important for the U.S. administration to make sure that the funds are used for their intended purpose and are not just stolen," he stressed.

Besides, Trump "has shown concern for ordinary American taxpayers," he noted. "The single-storied America, which voted for him in 2016, is more concerned about its own wellbeing rather than about satisfying hegemonic ambitions," TASS cited Slutsky as saying.

He noted though that the US president's step would be another reason for domestic political feuds. "Democrats will naturally be opposed [to that move], especially in light of the upcoming 2020 [election] campaign," the MP added. "However, for now I would not talk about radical changes in the United States’ policy towards Ukraine. For that, more serious signals are needed," Slutsky concluded.