Biden to lobby Trump administration not to walk away from Ukraine
11/11/2024 6:04
U.S. President Joe Biden
will discuss top domestic and foreign policy priorities with
President-elect Donald Trump when the two meet on Wednesday, and
lobby the incoming administration not to abandon Ukraine,
national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.
Republican Trump will take office on Jan. 20 after defeating
Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 presidential
election. Biden invited Trump to come to the Oval Office on
Wednesday, the White House said.
In an interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation" show,
Sullivan said Biden's top message will be his commitment to
ensure a peaceful transfer of power, and he will also talk to
Trump about what's happening in Europe, in Asia and the Middle
East.
"The President will have the chance to explain to President
Trump how he sees things, where they stand, and talk to
President Trump about how President Trump is thinking about
taking on these issues when he takes office," Sullivan said.
A key topic will likely be Ukraine's war with Russia, which
Trump has pledged to end swiftly, although he did not say 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," Sullivan said.
When asked if that means Biden will ask Congress to pass
legislation to authorize more funding for Ukraine, Sullivan
deferred.
"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,"
Sullivan said.
UKRAINE FUNDING
Washington has provided tens of billions of dollars worth of
U.S. military and economic aid to Ukraine since it was invaded
by Russia in February of 2022, funding that Trump has repeatedly
criticized and rallied against with other Republican lawmakers.
Sullivan's comments came as Ukraine attacked Moscow on
Sunday with at least 34 drones, the biggest drone strike on the
Russian capital since the beginning of the war.
Trump insisted last year that Russian President Vladimir
Putin never would have invaded Ukraine if he had been in the
White House at the time. He told Reuters Ukraine may have to
cede territory to reach a peace agreement, something the
Ukrainians reject and Biden has never suggested.
According to the Government Accountability Office, Congress
appropriated over $174 billion to Ukraine under Biden. The pace
of the aid is almost sure to drop under Trump with Republicans
set to take control of the U.S. Senate with a 52-seat majority.
Control of the U.S. 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 U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, a Trump ally who is
considered a top contender for secretary of state, criticized
U.S. 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," Hagerty said.
The 2-1/2-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
recognized. Kyiv demands all of its territory back, a position
that has largely been supported by Western allies.
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