United States President-elect Donald Trump on Monday criticised President Joe Biden's recent decision to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory.
He called the move "stupid" and expressed his anger. The decision - according to him - was made without taking his upcoming administration into confidence.
Struck last month, the deal lifted restrictions on Ukraine's use of the US-made Army Tactical Missile System, which will enable the country to target Russian positions hundreds of miles from the border.
바카라I don바카라t think that should have been allowed, especially not just weeks before I take over," Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort. "Why would they do that without asking me what I thought? I wouldn't have had him do that. I think it was a big mistake."
Trump바카라s reaction has come at a time when the Biden government is rushing to deliver the remaining aid for Ukraine before the newly-elected president takes office on January 20. The future assistance to Ukraine from the United States is seemingly uncertain under Trump's leadership. The debate underscores Trump바카라s potential influence on how Ukraine utilises its US weaponry moving forward that could play a significant role in his efforts to fulfill his campaign promise of swiftly ending the conflict.
When asked if he would consider reversing Biden's decision, Trump said, "I might. I think it was a very stupid thing to do.바카라
The White House, defending the decision, pointed to months of discussions before and after the election. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby explained that the decision had been well-coordinated with the incoming administration.
"All I can assure you is that in the conversations we've had with them since the election, and we've had at various levels, we have articulated to them the logic behind it, the thinking behind it, why we were doing it,바카라 Kirby said.
Trump바카라s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a subject of controversy since his 2016 presidential campaign. He had famously urged Russia to find and release Hillary Clinton바카라s missing emails. Trump바카라s public alignment with Putin, even over the US intelligence on Russian interference in the 2016 election, and his praise for the Russian leader바카라s actions, including his invasion of Ukraine, has sparked significant scrutiny.
Trump reiterated his call for both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin to negotiate a resolution to the war. He called the ongoing conflict 바카라carnage바카라. However, he acknowledged that finding a quick solution might prove difficult, a challenge he had previously claimed he could resolve in 24 hours upon taking office.
바카라I think the Middle East will be in a good place," Trump said, referring to conflicts in Gaza and Syria. 바카라I think actually more difficult is going to be the Russia-Ukraine situation.바카라
Trump declined to confirm whether he had spoken with Putin since the election. Zelenskyy met with Trump earlier this month in Paris, where the Ukrainian leader pressed Trump to continue supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia. The conflict remains highly complex, with both sides vying for leverage ahead of potential peace talks.
Last week, the Pentagon revealed intelligence suggesting Russia might soon deploy a new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine, a weapon that Putin had first used in November, shortly after Biden eased restrictions on Ukraine바카라s missile capabilities.
The decision to lift the ban on long-range missile strikes followed months of pressure from Zelenskyy and Western allies, who argued that the U.S. restriction had hindered Ukraine's ability to defend its cities and critical infrastructure.
Biden's action came amid growing concerns about Russia바카라s deployment of North Korean troops to reclaim territories in the Kursk region, which Ukraine had seized earlier this year.
