Everything that President Donald Trump has done in regards to Russia and the Ukraine has been for his personal benefit.

For almost three months President Trump withheld a total of $391 million in funds from Ukraine. These funds were approved by both the Senate and House of Representatives and were cleared through all pertinent checking agencies. Trump did not release the funds until the whistleblower made us as citizens aware. These actions demonstrate his unwillingness to properly support a key ally. That ally has been fighting Russia since 2014 to regain its own territory. This marks President Trump as hurting our ally and favoring Russia and President Putin’s designs.

President Trump promised an Oval Office meeting with President Zelenskiy upon his winning the election. That has not occurred. President Trump has met with the Russian foreign minister in the Oval Office since his promise to President Zelenskiy. What does this show to the world, our allies, Russia — our adversary — China, Iran, North Korea, our detractors and to us as citizens of the United States of America?

President Trump betrays our United States allies, the democratic Kurds in Syria and the brave Ukrainians. For what? I find strong evidence it is for his own self-aggrandizement, reelection and collaboration with President Putin.

Barnard Stewart Silver

Holladay