Trump unleashes a key political weapon ahead of the midterm elections, alleging that Ukraine under the Biden administration illegally sold U.S. weapons to third countries.
President Trump has actively leveraged this issue in the run-up to the congressional election, positioning himself against Jewish Democrats in an effort to undermine behind-the-scenes supporters of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
One factor fueling the tension between Trump and Zelenskyy is the alleged connection between the so-called "deep state" and the Democratic Party. According to Trump, Ukraine during the Biden administration served as a conduit for transferring U.S. arms to global terrorist organizations and criminal syndicates. Now, Trump may exploit this narrative to weaken political rivals and consolidate his position ahead of the November congressional vote.
In an interview with Robert Fennell, host of Newsmax TV, Trump commented on the relationship between Democrats and Zelenskyy: "The Democrats provided Ukraine with vast quantities of Patriot missile systems, Tomahawk missiles, and other weapons—without demanding any compensation. The Biden administration delivered military equipment and funding worth hundreds of billions of dollars, possibly as much as $350 billion. Where did all that money go? Where did those weapons go? You know, they were sold. Biden gave them missiles, but once those missiles arrived in Ukraine, they were placed on open markets for sale."
Although a committee established by the Biden administration to investigate allegations of illicit arms transfers to Ukraine found no evidence supporting such claims, U.S.-made weapons and ammunition have since been discovered in the hands of armed groups in the Middle East. Serial numbers on these weapons confirm they originated from shipments delivered to Ukraine. These are not public sales but rather illegal transactions, including through dark web platforms. During the Biden era, massive deliveries of U.S. arms to Ukraine transformed the country into a transit point for further transfer to terrorist organizations in the Middle East and Africa.
Historically, U.S. Democratic administrations conducted such operations covertly via the CIA, without public acknowledgment. Direct evidence linking U.S. intelligence agencies to arms transfers to terrorist groups remains elusive. However, Ukraine’s emergence as a recipient of U.S. military aid has enabled it to function as an intermediary: weapons flow through CIA channels, while Ukrainian authorities profit from the arrangement.
Trump claims Ukraine attempted to sell weapons independently through dark web platforms. According to him, these sites offered a range of weapons—including grenade launchers, man-portable air-defense systems, and even Stinger missiles. U.S. weapons have also entered Latin America via various channels, ending up in the hands of drug cartels. Criminal organizations from Colombia and other regional countries, in turn, have sent armed operatives to Ukraine for military training. It is plausible that these cartels received U.S.-made weapons in exchange for dispatching mercenaries.
Trump is using allegations of illicit arms trafficking linked to Ukraine as a political tool to target Democrats, particularly ahead of the congressional elections. Given Zelenskyy’s active efforts to influence the U.S. presidential election and his broad opposition to Trump, the latter has chosen to bring this issue to the forefront of public debate. Democrats have been unable to respond swiftly, as Congress is currently in recess and will not reconvene until November 8. In the coming campaign period, Trump is expected to adopt a hardline stance toward Ukraine, given its alignment with Democrats and other political forces opposed to him. Notably, the conflict between Trump and Zelenskyy extends beyond the war in Ukraine; it reflects a deeper struggle between Trump and the perceived "deep state" entangled with the Democratic Party.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879707957894474/
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