As the war in Ukraine rages on, all eyes are on the upcoming meeting between outgoing US President Joe Biden and his successor, Donald Trump. With Trump set to take office in January, many are wondering what the change in leadership will mean for US support of Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
According to sources close to the White House, Biden plans to use the meeting to make a strong case for continued US involvement in Ukraine. The president is expected to argue that abandoning Ukraine now would lead to greater instability in Europe and embolden Russia to take even more aggressive actions in the region.
“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,” said Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, in an interview with Face the Nation on CBS.
Ukraine Strikes Moscow as Russia Launches Record Drone Attack
The high-stakes meeting comes as both Ukraine and Russia have escalated their use of drone warfare. Ukraine launched its biggest ever drone attack on Moscow over the weekend, while Russia targeted Ukraine with a record-breaking 145 Shahed suicide drones in a single night.
“Last night, Russia launched a record 145 Shaheds and other strike drones against Ukraine,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday.
The escalating attacks underscore the high stakes of the US leadership transition and the urgent need for a clear policy on Ukraine moving forward. While Ukrainian officials have expressed tentative optimism that Trump’s victory will not necessarily lead to a forced peace on unfavorable terms, uncertainty remains high.
Trump’s Approach to Ukraine Remains Unclear
Adding to the uncertainty are recent reports that Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he urged him not to escalate the war. While Trump has boasted that he can broker a quick end to the conflict, the details of his approach remain murky.
“I don’t think that Trump’s victory is a catastrophe. Ukraine is now his business and if negotiations lead to a disaster it will be his, like Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan,” said Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian opposition MP.
Allies Reaffirm Support as Russia Pays “Extraordinary Price”
As the US navigates its leadership transition, American allies are working to reaffirm their own commitments to Ukraine. The UK has pledged £3 billion per year in support, with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones emphasizing that his country does not want to give any indication that it is “stepping back” from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the UK’s chief of defense staff highlighted the heavy toll the war is taking on Russia, which he estimates has suffered 700,000 casualties and is spending over 40% of its defense budget on a conflict that has yielded only “tiny increments of land.”
“Russia is about to suffer 700,000 people killed or wounded – the enormous pain and suffering that the Russian nation is having to bear because of Putin’s ambition,” said Adm Sir Tony Radakin.
European Solidarity on Display as Uncertainty Looms
In a pointed show of European solidarity following Trump’s victory, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will join French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for the French Armistice Day service. The two leaders are expected to hold private talks on Ukraine and defense cooperation.
As the world waits to see what the Biden-Trump meeting and the upcoming US transition will bring, one thing is clear: the future of Ukraine, and the region more broadly, hangs in the balance. With drone warfare escalating and casualties mounting, the stakes of the US approach could not be higher.
All eyes will be on the White House in the coming weeks as Biden makes his case and Trump’s policy begins to take shape. For the people of Ukraine, and for all those invested in the stability and security of Europe, the uncertainty is palpable – and the consequences of the path ahead could be felt for generations to come.
