In a highly anticipated meeting on Wednesday, President Biden will urge President-elect Trump to maintain the U.S. commitment to Ukraine, signaling Biden’s push to solidify current foreign policy approaches in the face of a potential shift come January 20. This discussion follows Trump’s electoral victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, marking his return to the Oval Office for a second term.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan previewed this meeting on CBS News’ Face the Nation, underscoring that Biden’s main message is the importance of a smooth, peaceful transition. But more than the logistics of transition, Biden intends to impress upon Trump the importance of continued support for Ukraine and America’s commitment to global stability. Biden, Sullivan said, would share his perspective on international hotspots from Europe to Asia and the Middle East, framing U.S. support for Ukraine as a necessary stance to deter Russia’s advances and prevent further instability.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Biden administration has rallied allies and secured substantial military and economic aid for Ukraine, which Congress has backed with over $174 billion. This funding has fortified Ukraine’s defenses against Russia, a crucial geopolitical move Biden and his allies argue has helped maintain stability in Europe. Sullivan reiterated that Biden will fully utilize all funding allocated by Congress for Ukraine before Trump’s inauguration but expressed concern over potential shifts in U.S. foreign aid under the new administration.
Notably, President-elect Trump has been vocal in his criticism of the aid flowing to Ukraine, signaling a likely reduction in funding once he assumes office. Trump has argued that American dollars should be spent domestically rather than on foreign wars and has suggested that Ukraine might have to negotiate territorial concessions to secure peace—a proposal that aligns more closely with Russia’s stance than with Ukraine’s and that has not been entertained by Biden.
Sullivan further argued that if the U.S. backs away from Ukraine, it risks undermining not only European stability but also America’s commitments to allies across Asia, a view shared by Japan’s prime minister. Trump, however, has continued to claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he had been in office at the time, and he has hinted at reopening peace negotiations with Russia, possibly on terms less favorable to Ukraine.
“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. “President Biden made clear when [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy was here in Washington a couple of months ago that we would spend all of the resources that were provided to us by the Congress on time and in full, meaning that by Jan. 20th we will have sent the full amount of resources and aid to Ukraine that Congress has authorized.”
“The United States should not walk away from its commitment either to Ukraine or to the 50 nations that we have rallied in defense of Ukraine, in both Europe and Asia,” he continued.
With Republicans set to take a 53-seat majority in the Senate, the Biden administration faces an uphill battle in securing ongoing support for Ukraine. While the U.S. has been Ukraine’s staunchest ally, the next administration’s approach could pivot significantly, especially if Trump follows through on promises to prioritize U.S. interests at home over foreign entanglements. Whether Trump would pursue an outright reduction in aid or a more dramatic shift remains to be seen, but any significant reduction in aid could have substantial consequences for Ukraine’s position on the battlefield.
The meeting between Biden and Trump thus serves as a critical moment, with Biden hoping to influence Trump’s approach before he takes office and to rally lingering bipartisan support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. As the war in Ukraine reaches what some say could be its “final act,” any pathway to peace will be complex. With Moscow holding firm on its territorial claims and Kyiv insisting on full sovereignty, the path forward is fraught with tension and may well depend on America’s next steps.
