By Humeyra Pamuk
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden will talk about prime home and overseas coverage priorities with President-elect Donald Trump when the 2 meet on Wednesday, and can urge him to not abandon Ukraine, nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned on Sunday.
Republican Trump will take workplace on Jan. 20 after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris within the Nov. 5 presidential election. Biden invited Trump to return to the Oval Workplace on Wednesday, the White Home mentioned.
In an interview on CBS Information’ “Face the Nation” present, Sullivan mentioned Biden’s prime message shall be his dedication to make sure a peaceable switch of energy, and he will even discuss to Trump about what’s taking place in Europe, in Asia and the Center 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 mentioned.
Whereas Sullivan didn’t specify which matters the 2 would talk about, their dialog will nearly actually characteristic Ukraine’s warfare with Russia, which Trump has pledged to finish swiftly, though he didn’t 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 mentioned.
When requested if meaning Biden will ask Congress to move laws to authorize extra 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 mentioned.
UKRAINE FUNDING
Washington has offered tens of billions of {dollars} value of U.S. navy and financial support to Ukraine because it was invaded by Russia in February of 2022, funding that Trump has repeatedly criticized and rallied towards with different Republican lawmakers.
Sullivan’s feedback got here as Ukraine attacked Moscow on Sunday with at the least 34 drones, the most important drone strike on the Russian capital because the starting of the warfare.
Trump insisted final yr that Russian President Vladimir Putin by no means would have invaded Ukraine if he had been within the White Home on the time. He advised Reuters Ukraine might need to cede territory to succeed in a peace settlement, one thing the Ukrainians reject and Biden has by no means steered.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned on Thursday he was not conscious of any particulars of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to finish the Ukraine warfare rapidly and that he was satisfied a speedy finish would entail main concessions for Kyiv.
In response to the Authorities Accountability Workplace, Congress appropriated over $174 billion to Ukraine below Biden. The tempo of the help is nearly positive to drop below Trump with Republicans set to take management of the U.S. Senate with a 52-seat majority.
Management of the U.S. Home of Representatives within the subsequent Congress just isn’t but clear with some votes nonetheless being counted. Republicans have received 213 seats, in accordance with Edison Analysis, simply shy of the 218 wanted for a majority. If Republicans win each chambers, it’ll imply the vast majority of Trump’s agenda could have a considerably simpler time passing by Congress.
Republican U.S. Senator Invoice Hagerty, a Trump ally who is taken into account a prime 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 mentioned.
The two-1/2-year-old warfare in Ukraine is coming into what some officers say may very well be its ultimate act after Moscow’s forces superior on the quickest tempo because the early days of the warfare.
Any recent try to finish the warfare is prone to contain peace talks of some form, which haven’t been held because the early months of the warfare.
Moscow’s forces occupy round a fifth of Ukraine. Russia says the warfare can not finish till its claimed annexations are acknowledged. Kyiv calls for all of its territory again, a place that has largely been supported by Western allies.
