The White House plans to allocate the remaining $6 billion of Ukraine funding before Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration in January, according to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. He emphasized the potential global consequences of withdrawing US support for Kyiv.
According to Sullivan, President Joe Biden is scheduled to discuss key foreign policy matters during his meeting with President-elect Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
During an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Sullivan emphasized that the president will have the opportunity to articulate his perspective, discuss the current state of affairs, and engage in a dialogue with President Trump regarding his approach to addressing these matters when he assumes office.
Biden has taken the lead in rallying an international coalition to support Ukraine in its battle against Moscow’s invasion. This comes at a critical time, with Russia making military advances and Ukraine facing a severe shortage of manpower.
Trump, on the other hand, maintains that he has the ability to bring an end to the war in just a day. He even suggests that this could happen before he assumes office. It is speculated that such an outcome would involve Kyiv conceding some of its lost territory to Moscow.
Ukrainians and European NATO members are actively seeking ways to engage with Trump amidst concerns about his perceived lack of support for Kyiv and NATO, and his friendliness towards Russia.
According to Sullivan, the Biden administration’s primary objective in the coming months is to ensure that Ukraine is in a strong position both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that Ukraine must give up significant portions of its territory before peace talks can take place. However, Kyiv has firmly rejected this demand.
Sullivan expressed his anticipation for advancements in the ongoing initiatives to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza and southern Lebanon, as well as the release of the Israeli hostages who are being held by Hamas.
According to the speaker, the Israeli government has a strong desire to negotiate a deal that will ensure the return of its citizens. He believes that the government’s motivation for pursuing this deal is not driven by American politics, but rather by a genuine commitment to securing the safety and well-being of Israel. He anticipates that there will be significant progress in the near future towards achieving this goal.
When questioned about Israel’s reaction to the joint letter from the US secretaries of state and defense, which called for improvements in the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Sullivan expressed that they will evaluate the progress made by Israel this week. Based on their assessment, they will determine their response.
Trump has maintained a strong bond with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who hailed the Republican’s triumph as a significant achievement. Netanyahu revealed that he had engaged in three separate conversations with Trump over the past few days.