The Biden administration plans to allocate the remaining $6 billion designated for Ukraine before the upcoming presidential inauguration of Donald Trump in January. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the importance of providing continued support to Ukraine during a recent interview, highlighting the potential global repercussions of halting U.S. assistance.
Sullivan revealed that President Joe Biden intends to address significant foreign policy matters in his meeting with President-elect Trump on Wednesday at the White House. “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 stated during the interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
The Biden administration has been a driving force behind an international coalition supporting Ukraine, which has been countering the invasion by Russia. This ongoing support is deemed critical, especially in light of recent Russian military advancements and Ukraine’s pressing manpower shortages.
On the other hand, Trump has expressed confidence in his ability to end the conflict quickly, potentially even before taking office. He has suggested that achieving peace may involve Ukraine conceding some of its territories to Russia. This prospect has prompted Ukrainian and European NATO leaders to proactively engage with Trump, as they prepare for a scenario where U.S. leadership may adopt a less supportive stance toward Kyiv and NATO.
Sullivan emphasized that during Biden’s remaining time in office, a key objective will be to bolster Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, thereby strengthening its leverage during any negotiations. He acknowledged the ongoing demands from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has insisted that Ukrainian territory must be ceded as a prerequisite for peace talks, a condition that Ukraine has firmly rejected.
In addition to the situation in Ukraine, Sullivan mentioned the administration’s focus on resolving conflicts in Gaza and southern Lebanon, as well as efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. “At some point, the Israeli government wants to do a deal that gets its citizens back home,” he remarked, suggesting that advancements in these areas could be expected in the weeks ahead.
When asked about Israel’s response to a recent joint letter from U.S. secretaries of state and defense urging improved humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Sullivan noted that the administration would evaluate Israel’s progress later in the week and consider appropriate actions based on those assessments.
In the aftermath of Trump’s electoral victory, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “huge victory” and revealed that he has been in communication with Trump multiple times in recent days, signaling a continued close relationship between the two leaders.
