Biden to lobby Trump administration not to walk away from Ukraine

WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden will discuss top domestic and foreign policy priorities with President-elect Donald Trump when the two meet on Nov 13, and lobby the incoming administration not to abandon Ukraine, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Nov 10.

Republican Trump will take office on Jan 20

after defeating Vice-President Kamala Harris in the Nov 5 presidential election

.

Mr Biden invited Trump to meet in the Oval Office on Nov 13, the White House said.

In an interview on CBS News’ Face The Nation show, Mr Sullivan said Mr Biden’s top message will be his commitment to ensuring a peaceful transfer of power. He said the President will also talk to Trump about events in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Mr Sullivan said Mr Biden will have the chance to explain to Trump how he sees things and where they stand, and discuss how Trump plans to take on these issues when he takes office.

While Mr Sullivan did not specify which topics the two would discuss, their conversation will almost certainly feature the Russia-Ukraine war, which Trump has pledged to end swiftly, although he has not said how.

“President Biden will have the opportunity over the next 70 days to make the case to the Congress and to the incoming administration that the United States should not walk away from Ukraine, that walking away from Ukraine means more instability in Europe,” Mr Sullivan said.

When asked if that meant Mr Biden will ask Congress to pass legislation to authorise more funding for Ukraine, Mr Sullivan said: “I’m not here to put forward a specific legislative proposal. President Biden will make the case that we do need ongoing resources for Ukraine beyond the end of his term.”

Washington has provided tens of billions of dollars worth of US military and economic aid to Ukraine since

it was invaded by Russia in February 2022,

funding that Trump has repeatedly criticised and rallied against with other Republican lawmakers.

Mr Sullivan’s comments came as Ukraine attacked Moscow on Nov 10 with at least 34 drones, the biggest drone strike on the Russian capital since the beginning of the war.

Trump insisted in 2023 that Russian President Vladimir Putin never would have invaded Ukraine if he had been in the White House at the time. He told Reuters that Ukraine may have to cede territory to reach a peace agreement, something the Ukrainians reject and Mr Biden has never suggested.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov 7 that he was not aware of any details of Trump’s plan to end the Ukraine war quickly, and that he was convinced a rapid end would entail major concessions for Kyiv.

According to the Government Accountability Office, Congress appropriated more than US$174 billion (S$230 billion) to Ukraine under Mr Biden. The pace of the aid is almost sure to drop under Trump, with Republicans set to take control of the US Senate with at least a 52-seat majority.

Control of the US House of Representatives in the next Congress is not yet clear, with some votes still being counted. Republicans have won 213 seats, according to Edison Research, just shy of the 218 needed for a majority.

If Republicans win both Chambers, it will mean the majority of Trump’s agenda will have a significantly easier time passing through Congress.

Republican US Senator Bill Hagerty, a Trump ally who is considered a top contender for secretary of state, criticised US funding for Ukraine in a CBS interview.

“The American people want sovereignty protected here in America before we spend our funds and resources protecting the sovereignty of another nation,” Mr Hagerty said.

The 2½-year-old war in Ukraine is entering what some officials say could be its final act after Moscow’s forces advanced at the fastest pace since the early days of the war.

Any fresh attempt to end the war is likely to involve peace talks of some kind, which have not been held since the early months of the war.

Moscow’s forces occupy around a fifth of Ukraine. Russia says the war cannot end until its claimed annexations are recognised. Kyiv demands all of its territory back, a position that has largely been supported by Western allies. REUTERS