UK ex-minister: US risking "greater humiliation" than Afghanistan withdrawal by abandoning Ukraine

Former UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has warned that abandoning Ukraine would be an even greater humiliation for the United States than its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which marked the end of a 20-year conflict.

Speaking to The Telegraph's Daily T podcast, Hague argued that allowing Ukraine to "collapse" would be a far more significant blow to Western credibility than the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan, Caliber.Az reports.

The US pullout from Afghanistan was widely criticised for its disorderly execution, which saw the Taliban take control of Kabul and reinstate their regime. However, Lord Hague stressed that a similar fate for Ukraine would be disastrous for the United States, particularly under the leadership of Donald Trump.

"The operation was widely seen as chaotic as it allowed Taliban insurgents to seize power in Kabul and bring the country back under their rule," Hague said.

"But allowing the ‘collapse’ of Ukraine would be a far bigger humiliation for Donald Trump’s administration."

Hague's comments come amid growing concerns in Kyiv over the future of US support for Ukraine. These fears were heightened by remarks from Donald Trump and senior Republicans during the 2024 election campaign, with many wondering if the US might scale back its backing for Ukraine.

“It’s in Trump’s best interests, his own best interests, to maintain the strength of the West of these things,” Lord Hague remarked.

Kyiv officials have expressed concern over Trump's campaign promise to bring an end to the war within 24 hours of assuming office, which some fear could result in Russia retaining control of the territories it occupies in Ukraine.

Reports have also emerged that the former US president has nominated Marco Rubio, a senator who has shown support for Ukraine but has insisted the war must be brought to an end, as his prospective secretary of state.

Thus, with the reelection of Donald Trump, Ukraine may face a significant reduction in US assistance, a development that could prove crucial in its ongoing war with Russia. Throughout his campaign, Trump, alongside his running mate JD Vance, has expressed scepticism about continued American backing for Kyiv, especially as the war enters its third year following Russia's invasion. Trump has also hinted that the US could push Ukraine towards an uneasy truce with Russia.

The reelection comes at a critical juncture for Ukraine, as Russian forces continue to make inroads in the eastern Donbas region, an area Russian President Vladimir Putin is intent on fully capturing. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi recently reported that the situation on the front lines "remains difficult," with certain sectors requiring a constant replenishment of Ukrainian resources.

Trump's victory places further uncertainty over future Western support for Ukraine, just as Kyiv faces mounting pressure from Russian advances in the east.

By Aghakazim Guliyev