President Donald Trump, as he navigates making an attempt to finish the Russia-Ukraine struggle, is repeatedly making false claims in regards to the quantity of help the U.S. has given to help Ukraine.
He did in order he met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on Monday to debate negotiations to finish the three-year battle.
“The US has put up much more help for Ukraine than some other nation, tons of of billions of {dollars},” Trump stated. “We have spent greater than $300 billion, and Europe has spent about $100 billion. That is an enormous distinction.”
In a while, in response to a query on whether or not the U.S. would assist with reconstruction in Ukraine after the struggle, Trump stated: “We’re in there for about $350 billion. I believe that is a fairly large contribution.”
President Donald Trump listens throughout a gathering with France’s President Emmanuel Macron within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, Feb. 24, 2025.
Ludovic Marin/AP
It isn’t the primary time Trump stated the U.S. has spent $350 billion towards Ukraine, although he has not cited the place he is gotten that determine.
Authorities assets place the quantity of help appropriated by Congress for Ukraine for the reason that struggle started in 2022 at $174 billion.
In response to the Congressional Research Service, lawmakers handed 5 items of laws setting apart help for Ukraine between 2022 and 2024.
The funding was at first bipartisan, however as Russia’s invasion continued, many Republicans started talking out that the U.S. was doing an excessive amount of to help Ukraine and aligned themselves with Trump’s “America First” overseas coverage missive.
How a lot cash Congress has handed to help Ukraine.
Congressional Analysis Service
Ukraine Oversight, the website of the particular inspector common for Operation Atlantic Resolve created years in the past to trace help to Ukraine, states the quantity put aside for Ukraine by the U.S. is a bit larger at $182 billion.
That determine consists of the $174 billion appropriated by Congress and extra funds allotted from particular businesses. In response to the positioning, $83 billion has been disbursed and one other $57 billion obligated, with roughly $40 billion appropriated however not but obligated.
As for Trump’s declare that the U.S. has spent greater than Europe, that can also be not correct.
The Kiel Institute for the World Financial system, a analysis group primarily based in Germany that tracks support from overseas governments towards Ukraine, estimates that the U.S. has allotted about $119 billion. The rationale the estimate is completely different from U.S. authorities information, the institute explains, is as a result of it solely consists of direct help to Ukraine — not cash appropriated within the payments that relate to Ukraine however should not bilateral, such restocking U.S. weapon stockpiles or aiding refugees.
By comparability, Kiel discovered European nations have all collectively allotted round $138 billion to Ukraine.
Authorities help for Ukraine by the numbers.
Kiel Institute for the World Financial system
Trump’s exaggeration of help to Ukraine comes as his administration pushes for a a deal that might give the U.S. access to profits from Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources. Trump has demanded the settlement as a approach for Ukraine to pay again U.S. help in the course of the struggle.
“It seems to be like we’re getting very shut,” Trump stated on Monday. “We’re, I believe, getting very near getting an settlement the place we get our a reimbursement over a time period.”
