EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Monday that letting Russia win in Ukraine would represent a loss for the United States, as Donald Trump prepares to return to the presidency.
“Certainly it would not be a victory for the American leadership if Ukraine crumbles down and Putin wins the war,” Borrell told AFP on the first visit to Kyiv by a senior EU official since Trump’s US election triumph.
Trump’s re-election has raised concern in Ukraine and Europe that he could end Washington’s support for Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion.
On the campaign trail, Trump cast doubt on maintaining the vast US military and financial aid to Ukraine and said he could cut a quick deal to end the war.
Borrell’s trip to Ukraine, his last before leaving office next month, was aimed at reassuring Kyiv that it still has Europe’s firm backing regardless of the US election outcome.
The Kremlin on Monday denied a report by The Washington Post that Trump and Putin discussed the Ukraine war in a telephone call last week.
Borrell said he had no indication of whether they had spoken already but added they “certainly will” talk at some point.
“It’s not a…