Donald Trump avoided a direct answer during Tuesday evening’s presidential debate when asked if he wanted Ukraine to win its ongoing war with Russia, highlighting fears that a second Trump administration could end military support for Kyiv.
When ABC’s David Muir questioned Trump about his stance on Ukraine’s victory, Trump did not provide a clear response, instead stating, “I want the war to stop.” He emphasized the human cost of the conflict, inaccurately claiming millions had been killed, a figure not verified by any international body.
Trump suggested that if elected, he would negotiate an early deal to end the war and warned that the U.S. was “playing with World War III.” Kamala Harris quickly criticized his remarks, asserting that under Trump’s leadership, Russian President Vladimir Putin would have already invaded Kyiv and set his sights on other European countries, including Poland.
Harris challenged Trump to explain to the 800,000 Polish Americans in Pennsylvania how he would handle relations with a dictator, accusing him of potentially sacrificing U.S. interests for the sake of an alliance with a known authoritarian.
Trump’s evasive answers are likely to reignite concerns in Kyiv that he might cut off crucial military and economic aid if reelected, at a time when Ukraine remains heavily reliant on support from the U.S. and NATO allies.