Quotes
If he decides to leave the burden of European security to the Europeans, it would be a positive shift for us because Europe simply lacks the financial resources to handle it,
the diplomatic source added
If it does start to erode, it will do so very slowly,
a diplomatic source saidIt's possible to cautiously predict that some contact will be restored,
said the Russian diplomat, who also expects that Moscow will appoint a new ambassador to Washington — a seat that has been vacant for weeks — following Trump's inaugurationOne feels a human satisfaction because, back in 2020, they tried to take victory away from the guy by all means,
one source said, echoing the conspiracy theory that the 2020 U.S. election was rigged against TrumpRepublicans have an agenda that resonates with my personal views — issues like migration and traditional values. We Soviet people were fundamentally very similar to Americans during the Reagan era, even though there was mutual disdain and name-calling,
a Russian official saidI am a bureaucrat, and I welcome it. Trump won despite the falsifications. I think his arrival will not affect Russia-U.S. relations in any significant way. However, the situation will likely intensify in the Middle East and the Taiwan Strait.”
A high-ranking government official addedIt's going to be a rough ride and a scary ride, from the perspective of America's commitment to European defense, it's going to to be a rough ride for American assistance to Ukraine,
Hunter Christie said
I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election, the U.S. will remain a strong and committed NATO ally,
Stoltenberg saidThis would be sort of the first test of a change in U.S. policy, which will have knock-on and compounding effects for NATO over the next four years,
he addedGovernments of every European nation have repeatedly failed to prepare and sustain their defences for the last 30 years,
Emma Salisbury, an associate fellow at the U.K.-based Council on Geostrategy think tank, said in a statement on social mediaMost people expect, or at least fear, that Trump probably will slow down and eventually just stop, or significantly reduce, U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, which will put Europeans in an almost impossible situation, similar to what we had earlier this year when aid was blocked by Congress,
Hunter Christie saidI think they're very worried, but they've only really got themselves to blame. Time is ticking."
Arnold saidIf Trump does want to negotiate with Russia to end the war on his first day, which is the third week in January, then Europeans need to get together to work out how they would potentially manage that,
Arnold separately told NewsweekWhatever America's future in NATO looks like, other member states need to take their own defense seriously,
Salisbury said in separate remarks to NewsweekIt's a bad surprise for most governments in Europe,
former NATO official Edward Hunter Christie told NewsweekTrump has been very consistent for literally decades that he thinks that America's allies are freeloaders and free riders on America's protection,
Hunter Christie told NewsweekI think it's rational to expect Trump, pretty quickly after he's inaugurated, to start asking Europeans to spend a lot more on defense,
he argued, and this may not stop at the 2 percent markThe immediate crisis within Europe will be how to continue diplomatic, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine without the U.S.,
said Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow for European security at the United Kingdom-based Royal United Services Institute think tank.jpg)
And we're on track to deliver on the financial pledge of 40 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year,
Rutte said
Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies,
he wrote on social media, saying