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How Trump presidency could change Ukraine war
Donald Trump's latest comments on Russia and Ukraine have caused concern in Europe.
Politics
Over the course of his short but eventful political career, Donald Trump has shown a predisposition to be sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During a 2018 Russia-US summit in Finland, for instance, he disregarded US intelligence services, choosing to to believe Mr Putin's denial of meddling in the 2016 election.
If Mr Trump returns to the White House, this more positive attitude toward Russia - which is echoed in much of the Republican base and some of the party's members in Congress - is likely to re-emerge as a driving force in US policy.
His comments at a CNN-hosted town hall event this week provided further evidence to those who accuse him of being too cosy with Mr Putin.
The former president said he could end the war in 24 hours but did not say how. He refused to be drawn on whether he wanted Ukraine to prevail and complained about the cost of the military aid.
"We don't have ammunition for ourselves. We're giving away so much," he said, accusing European countries of not contributing enough.
While the US Congress has approved billions of dollars in support for Ukraine to be distributed over an extended timeframe, as president, Mr Trump could use his executive power to slow down or even stop that support.
He did this before when president, for some congressionally approved military aid.
Some of his Republican colleagues were quick to condemn his remarks, but it is possible - or even probable - that if Trump were elected in November 2024, US backing for the war effort could end entirely.
At the very least, the full-throated support for Ukraine that the current administration has expressed, along with its aggressive diplomatic efforts to maintain a united front with European allies on Russia sanctions, would in all likelihood be greatly diminished.
In the UK, which is ramping up its assistance to Ukraine to now include long-range missiles, there are concerns about the implications of a Trump presidency.
If Mr Trump cuts off the supply of weapons, the war will end on Russian terms, which is the West's worst nightmare, says the former head of Britain's secret service, Sir Alex Younger.
"Putin didn't have a Plan B when he invaded Ukraine but this is now his Plan B - to wait it out."
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