Former US President Joe Biden said the Trump administration's pressure on Ukraine to hand over territory to russia is a modern policy of appeasement, adding that those who think russian leader vladimir putin will stop if they make concessions in a peace agreement, "simply stupid."
He told the BBC in his first interview since leaving the White House.
Biden was asked about comments by the Trump administration that Kyiv must give up part of its territory to secure a peace deal that would end the hostilities.
“This is modern appeasement,” Biden said Monday, referring to the policies of former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who in the late 1930s tried to satisfy Adolf Hitler’s demands in a failed attempt to avoid a catastrophic all-out war in Europe.
Discussing putin, Biden said, “I just don’t understand how people think that if we let a dictator, a thug, decide that he’s going to take a significant amount of land that doesn’t belong to him, that’s going to satisfy him. I don’t quite understand.”
Biden added that russian leader vladimir putin considers Ukraine part of russia and “anyone who thinks he’s going to stop” if any territory is given up as part of a peace deal is “simply stupid.”
He also expressed concern that “Europe will lose confidence in America’s certainty and America’s leadership.” The continent's leaders, he added, "are asking themselves, 'What do I do now? Can I rely on the United States? Will they be there?'"
The former US President also said he feared that some NATO countries bordering russia might "just say we have to make concessions" to putin if Ukraine eventually gives up its territories.
Biden also commented on the Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office quarrel: "I think the way it happened is not worthy of America."
The US is by far the largest donor to Ukraine, but European countries combined have spent more money, according to the Kiel Institute, a German think tank that tracks support for Ukraine.
"I don't understand how they don't understand that there is strength in alliances. It's profitable... It saves us money overall," Biden said of the Trump administration on Monday.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, meanwhile, US Special Envoy to Ukraine and russia Keith Kellogg announced Washington's new initiative to end hostilities. The idea is to create a demilitarized zone along the front line, which should be controlled by both sides.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.