Day: February 4, 2025

Zelenskyy Claims Ukraine Only Received $75B Of $177B In U.S. Aid, Doesn’t Know ‘Where All That Money Went’

TOPSHOT - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses after an interview for French media including AFP in Rivne on July 30, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.A (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP) (Photo by GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses after an interview for French media including AFP in Rivne on July 30, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.A (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP) (Photo by GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Blake Wolf
1:46 PM – Monday, February 3, 2025

In a recent interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy claimed that Kyiv has only received around $75 billion out of the at least $177 billion sent by the Biden administration, prompting even the most vocal Ukraine funding advocates to convey suspicion.

“When I hear — both in the past and even now — from the U.S. that America has provided Ukraine with hundreds of billions, as the president of a nation at war, I can tell you — we’ve received [no] more than $75 billion,” he stated this past weekend in an interview with the Associated Press.

“So, when people talk about $177 billion or even $200 billion, we’ve never received that. We’re talking about tangible things because this aid didn’t come as cash but rather as weapons, which amounted to about U.S. $70 billion,” he continued.

The Ukrainian president went on to add that Kyiv is grateful for the support of the United States “but when it’s said that Ukraine received $200 billion to support the army during the war — that’s not true. I don’t know where all that money went.”

It currently remains unclear as to where the over $100 billion in military aid sent under the Biden administration went, or if Zelenskyy is being honest about not having received the funds.

The White House has yet to respond to Zelenskyy’s claim.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has been working to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

“We have meetings and talks scheduled with various parties, including Ukraine and Russia. I think those discussions are going pretty well,” Trump said on Sunday.

Trump’s appointed special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, stated that ending the Russia-Ukraine war is extremely important to “our national security interests.” Nevertheless, he has also noted that Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia have been weakening the Russian military, benefitting American military objectives.

“When you look at the money that the United States has provided, which is over $174 billion, when you look at the alliance that has now formed with Russia, with North Korea, with China and Iran – that wasn’t there before,” he added.

Zelensky recently responded to reports of Trump negotiating the end of the war with Russia while excluding a Ukrainian representative, calling the talks “dangerous.”

“If there will be direct talks between America and Russia without Ukraine, it is very dangerous, I think,” Zelensky stated. “They may have their own relations, but talking about Ukraine without us — it is dangerous for everyone.”

Zelensky reiterated that any discussions between Russia and the United States without a Ukrainian representative present would validate Putin’s invasion, subtly warning the Trump administration.

“This will mean that anyone can act like this. And this will be a signal to other leaders of the big countries who think about [doing]… something similar.”

Trump’s special envoy did not reveal how Trump plans on applying pressure to both parties, although he vaguely stated that he will negotiate “something that’ll be significant.”

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CEO Chris Wright Confirmed To Lead Energy Department

 

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is sworn in during his Senate Energy and Natural Resources confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Wright is a U.S. engineer and entrepreneur serving as the CEO of Liberty Energy, which is the second-largest hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, company in North America. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is sworn in during his Senate Energy and Natural Resources confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
5:35 PM – Monday, February 3, 2025

The Senate has confirmed Chris Wright, the CEO of Liberty Energy, to lead the Energy Department. 

On Monday, Wright was confirmed following a 59-38 vote — making him the new energy secretary.

Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) as well as Independent Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted with Republicans to confirm him.

“He’s a scientist who has invested his life around energy. He is indeed an unrestrained enthusiast for fossil fuels in almost every regard, but he studied nuclear,” Hickenlooper said during Wright’s confirmation hearing. “His first few years of working were in solar. He has experience in wind.”

Wright is set to run a department that oversees energy research and loans, as well as the nation’s nuclear weapons arsenal.

Wright’s supporters cheered his confirmation, with Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, expressing that his leadership will support America’s future. 

“I am confident that we can reverse the irresponsible policies of the Biden administration and prioritize affordable and reliable energy. Under his leadership, the DOE will once again support the American worker, the American family, and the American future,” said Lee.

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Brylan Riggs: They just DESTROYED a Major Government agency… Elon Musk, RFK Jr, Tucker Carlson

Media analyst Mark Dice breaks down how Trump's tariff threats against Mexico, Canada, and China led to immediate action from Canada, with Justin Trudeau agreeing to strengthen border security and combat fentanyl trafficking. The analysis delves into the USAID controversy, where the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) discovered questionable spending on international DEI programs and cultural projects. The breakdown reveals historical connections between USAID and CIA operations, including a covert Cuban hip-hop program. Democratic politicians' reactions to the USAID reforms sparked heated debates about executive power, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration's efforts to align the agency with American interests.

Laura Ingraham: Imagine how deep this rot goes

‘Corrupt’ USAID exposed for wasting taxpayer money on ‘radical left’ causes

This week on Power Hour, Trump vows to shut down USAID– sparking Democrat outrage; US suspends 25% Mexico tariffs; Dems blame election loss on “misogyny, racism”; US border crossings plummet; and a shocking twist in the Baldoni-Lively-Reynolds saga.

Democrats Stormed USAID HQ but Karoline Leavitt BRINGS RECEIPTS!

Ilhan Omar and fellow Democrats staged a protest outside the USAID headquarters in response to efforts by the Trump administration to close the agency.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has publicly criticized USAID for what she describes as wasteful spending on international cultural and diversity projects.

Elon, DOGE Uncover and Shut Down MASSIVE Grift Stealing Money From the US Taxpayers

Mexico And U.S. Reach Agreement To Suspend Tariffs For A Month And Deploy 10K Troops To The Border

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on February 3, 2025. Sheinbaum said February 3, the US has agreed to pause the start of tariffs on Mexican goods for one month, after talks with her counterpart Donald Trump. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on February 3, 2025. Sheinbaum said February 3, the US has agreed to pause the start of tariffs on Mexican goods for one month, after talks with her counterpart Donald Trump. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff James Meyers
11:05 AM – Monday, February 3, 2025

President Donald Trump and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that they have agreed to a one-month pause on the imposition of a 25% across-the-board tariff by the U.S. in exchange for concessions on border security by Mexico. During this time, a broader deal will be negotiated. 

As part of the temporary pause, Sheinbaum agreed to reinforce the U.S.-Mexico border with 10,000 personnel from her country’s National Guard to help cut down on fentanyl dissemination and illegal immigration into the U.S., per statements from both presidents. 

The U.S. also agreed to increase efforts to prevent the trafficking of weapons, according to the Mexican president, who had a call with Trump earlier in the day on Monday. 

“I  just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “We will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level representatives from Mexico.”

“I look forward to participating in those negotiations with President Sheinbaum as we attempt to achieve a ‘deal’ between our two Countries.”

The move comes after Trump ordered a 25% levy on Mexican imports after accusing the neighboring country of failing to meet his demands of addressing the fentanyl and migration situations. 

The tariff was set to come in addition to existing tariffs the U.S. has in effect against Mexico, which had been preparing retaliatory measures. 

Meanwhile, Mexico is currently the U.S.’s largest trading partner, with close to 80% of its exports flowing north. Just 165 of U.S. exports go to Mexico, with almost $775 billion worth of goods being traded between the two nations last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

“We had a good conversation with President Trump, with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty; we reached a series of agreements,” Sheinbaum said in a statement on X, per a translation.

“Our teams will begin working today on two fronts: security and trade,” she added. “They are pausing tariffs for one month from now.”

Additionally, Trump had also ordered a 25% tariff on Canada for fentanyl and the migrant crises and a 10% across-the-board tariff on China. 

However, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled new 25% tariffs on over $106 billion in U.S. goods. 

Canada, China and Mexico are America’s three largest trading partners, totaling almost $1.4 trillion worth of U.S. imports annually. 

In the near future, the Tax Foundation projects that if all three tariffs went into effect that the average U.S. household would see a tax hike of about $830. 

“This will be the golden age of America! Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe (and maybe not!). But we will make America great again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid,” Trump acknowledged on Truth Social Sunday.

The president also hinted at hitting European countries with tariffs over the weekend. 

“The UK, but [the] European Union is really out of line,” Trump told reporters on Sunday night. “UK is out of line but I’m sure that one, I think that one can be worked out. But the European Union, it’s an atrocity what they’ve done.”

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J.D.Vance Visits East Palestine On 2-Yr. Anniversary Of Train Derailment, Assures More Assistance To Ohio Community

US Vice President JD Vance speaks at the East Palestine Fire Department as he visits East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3, 2025. Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, were forced to evacuate in February 2023, when a Norfolk Southern train carrying chemicals derailed, covering the area in thick black smoke. (Photo by Rebecca DROKE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
US Vice President JD Vance speaks at the East Palestine Fire Department as he visits East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3, 2025. (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
1:03 PM – Monday, February 3, 2025

Vice President JD Vance traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, on the second anniversary of the toxic train derailment that shook the Ohio community.

East Palestine is 20 miles south of Youngstown and 40 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance, his wife, joined local officials and other Republican Party leaders on Monday — flocking to the scene in order to view the remaining damage, give a speech, and discuss related matters with environmental agency representatives.

Vance was joined by Governor Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway (R-Ohio), and members of the village council.

The tragedy in East Palestine occurred on February 3rd, 2023, in which a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire. The fire spread over several days, releasing extremely toxic fumes, oil spills, and forcing locals to flee their homes with their pets and most important belongings. It also prompted those in the area to worry about the long-term health and economic impacts of the derailment.

Zeldin noted that this was his first stop as the EPA’s new administrator.

“I know how much of a priority this is for Vice President Vance. And because it is such a priority for him, I will make sure that for the EPA it is our highest priority day in day out doing everything in our power to make sure this is completed as quickly as possible,” Zeldin said.

Vance also went on to praise several local officials in the village, including Conaway and Fire Chief Keith Drabick, as well as the village’s firefighters.

“I think this community will build back stronger, and part of that is because of the leadership of [Mayor Conaway] and of course the great firefighters. I know that a lot of you took it upon yourselves to make sure this community thrived and survived in the wake of that disaster,” Vance said.

“Whether you’re a United States Senator or the Vice President of the United States [Chief Drabick] tells you exactly what he thinks you need to hear,” Vance continued.

DeWine stated that he is looking forward to working with Zeldin and the Trump administration on continuing efforts to clean up the area following the derailment.

“This is a community that is resilient, is tough [and] is strong. It is a great, great community, it is a great place to raise a family. … But it is also a community that continues to need some assistance, and we’re certainly going to be doing that,” DeWine said.

The GOP vice president promised that the Trump administration would be completely transparent with how much longer the cleanup process would take, once they knew all the details. Vance also criticized the Biden administration for its lack of transparency following the initial incident, arguing that Biden officials were not clear or very concerned with the damage being inflicted on the community during Vance’s time as a U.S. senator.

“I would say, ‘well, when is the cleanup going to be done,’ and they’d give me a date, and I’d call a couple weeks after that date and I’d say ‘is the cleanup done’ and they’d say ‘no, it’s going to take another few months,’ Vance said.

“I’m not saying everything’s going to go perfect because it never does, but we’re always going to be honest and transparent with the people here,” Vance continued.

He later promised to continue long-term testing on the village’s air, water, and wells.

“People have to be confident that they can invest in a business here, that they can build a business here, that they can raise a family here. That’s going to take the long-term commitment of [not only] the Environmental Protection Agency, but the whole administration, and that’s certainly something that people here can expect and they’ll have,” Vance said.

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