Trump’s ‘Mud Blocked Tanks’ Claim Debunked — And Europe Now Tops U.S. in Aid to Ukraine
Trump’s Questionable Kyiv Theory
At a recent White House briefing, President Trump claimed he knew why Russian forces didn’t swiftly reach Kyiv in 2022:
"They would’ve been in Kyiv in four hours… But a Russian general made a brilliant decision to go through the farmland instead," resulting in tanks getting "stuck in the mud."
This claim diverges sharply from the consensus among military experts. Analysts—including Rob Lee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute—point out that Russia did, in fact, attempt to move along highways, not through farmland by choice. Their operations were hampered by strong Ukrainian resistance, supply chain breakdowns, and infrastructure limitations. Tanks did get stuck in the mud, but this usually occurred after failing to advance on roads, not because roads were deliberately avoided.
In fact, the infamous 40-mile Russian convoy stalled approximately 30 km from Kyiv due to a mix of logistical failure, congestion, heavy mud, and southern Ukrainian counterattacks.
The Russian route appeared intended to be along roads and highways—the mud only became a problem after these routes broke down, not because they were consciously avoided.
Aid Reality: Europe Has Surpassed the U.S.
Trump has repeatedly touted that the U.S. has donated $350 billion to Ukraine compared to just $100 billion by Europe. That claim doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
Verified Aid Figures
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Kiel Institute data (Jan 2022 – Dec 2024):
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U.S. aid: ~$119.7 billion
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Europe (EU + member states): ~$138.7 billion
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By April 2025, Europe (including non-EU countries) had committed €72 billion in aid, compared to €65 billion from the U.S.—marking Europe's first sustained lead in total military aid.Total European commitments (EU + non-EU) are now almost double U.S. pledges—about €156 billion versus the U.S.’s under €70 billion
Population-Normalized Examples
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Norway’s aid amounts to 1.7% of its GDP.
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Multi-year packages, like the EU’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility running through 2027, have cemented Europe's long-term support. Reuters reports that Ukraine recently secured $1.5 billion from European allies to purchase U.S.-made weapons through a NATO-coordinated funding effort.
What This Imbalance Means
Misleading Military Lessons
Trump's oversimplified explanation of the failed Russian advance—blaming it on strategy rather than operational and logistical breakdowns—distorts the true complexity of Ukraine’s defensive resilience.
Undermining Western Support Dynamics
The U.S. no longer leads in total aid to Ukraine; Europe has taken the front seat. Overstating U.S. support minimizes Europe’s role and may influence public opinion and policy decisions in Washington.
Importance of Accurate Reporting
As aid commitments evolve, careful attention to actual data is vital—whether you’re crafting policy, analyzing conflict dynamics, or following global news.