‘Our strategy stays the identical because it’s been for the final two and a half years,’ Jake Sullivan says.
With simply 71 days to go earlier than leaving workplace, President Joe Biden will proceed to push for extra army support to Ukraine in its battle with Russia whereas additionally pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza, stated one in every of his high advisers.
Throughout the 2024 marketing campaign, former President Donald Trump usually pledged to chop support to Ukraine and stated he would transfer to rapidly finish the Russia–Ukraine struggle. Since February 2022, the Biden administration has supplied tens of billions of {dollars} to the Kyiv authorities led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has made plenty of impassioned pleas to each Biden and Congress to proceed to supply funding and materials help.
“It ought to be as much as Ukraine to resolve for its personal sovereignty and personal territorial integrity when and the way it goes to the negotiating desk,” Sullivan informed CBS Information on Sunday. “It ought to be as much as the USA and a coalition of countries that we have now constructed to proceed to provide Ukraine with the means to defend itself in opposition to brutal Russian aggression.”
Trump and Biden are scheduled to fulfill on Wednesday to discuss the transition course of, together with concerning “what is going on in Europe and Asia and the Center East,” Sullivan stated.
In that assembly, he added, Biden will reiterate he’s dedicated to the “peaceable switch of energy” and a “accountable handoff” when assembly with the president-elect. Biden will end his time period on Jan. 20, 2025.
Sullivan that within the intervening interval, Biden will use the total quantity of assets that Congress handed for Ukraine.
“Strolling away means extra instability in Europe, and in the end, because the Japanese prime minister stated, if we stroll away from Ukraine in Europe, the query about America’s dedication to our allies in Asia will develop,” Sullivan stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy have each congratulated Trump on his win, whereas Putin has stated that the Russian chief is able to communicate with the incoming administration in regards to the Ukraine struggle.
“What was stated in regards to the want to revive relations with Russia, to deliver in regards to the finish of the Ukrainian disaster, in my view this deserves consideration at the very least,” stated Putin.
However a Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, informed reporters final week that the circumstances for ending the struggle stay unchanged.
“The president has by no means stated that the objectives of the particular army operation are altering. Quite the opposite, he has repeatedly stated that they continue to be the identical,” Peskov stated, referring to Putin. “All this issues the safety pursuits of our nation, the safety pursuits of the Russian folks dwelling there. Due to this fact, there was no speak of any adjustments right here.”
Zelenskyy stated he doesn’t know the way Trump plans to finish the battle rapidly. “If it’s simply quick, it means losses for Ukraine,” he stated on Mov. 7. “I simply don’t but perceive how this could possibly be in every other method. Perhaps we have no idea one thing, don’t see.”
Israel in Focus
Concerning the struggle between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group and broader Center Jap conflicts, Sullivan stated that there could also be a U.S. overseas coverage change when Trump takes over. At this level, Hamas is stopping a cease-fire accord with Israel, the adviser stated.
“What we have to do is get the remainder of the world to proceed to extend stress on Hamas to return to the desk to do a deal in Gaza, as a result of the Israeli authorities stated it’s ready to take a brief step in that course,” Sullivan informed CBS Information.
Sooner or later, Israel should negotiate a deal that enables for Israeli hostages to return house, he stated, including that “it’s doing that deal to attempt to safe Israel, and I count on within the coming weeks we’ll see progress.”
The US additionally has been engaged in discussions with Israel on tips on how to resolve its battle in Lebanon with the Hezbollah terrorist group.
Days after Trump’s victory, Israel’s protection minister, Yoav Gallant, was fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and changed by Israel Katz.
Reuters contributed to this report.