President-elect Donald Trump on Monday criticized President Joe Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukrainian forces to use American long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory, calling the move “stupid.” Trump suggested he may reverse the decision when he takes office and expressed frustration that his incoming administration was not consulted beforehand.
Last month, Biden lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of the U.S.-provided Army Tactical Missile System, enabling Kyiv to target Russian positions hundreds of miles inside Russia. Speaking during a wide-ranging press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump questioned the timing of the decision.
“I don’t think that should have been allowed, certainly not weeks before I take over,” Trump said. “Why would they do that without asking me? I wouldn’t have approved it. I think it was a big mistake.”
Trump’s criticism comes as the Biden administration rushes to push remaining U.S. aid for Ukraine out the door before Trump assumes office on Jan. 20, amid uncertainty about future support. However, Trump’s stance underscores his significant influence over U.S. policy on Ukraine going forward, a key factor as he reiterates his campaign pledge to end the war swiftly.
When asked whether he would reverse Biden’s decision, Trump said: “I might. I think it was a very stupid thing to do.”
The White House defended its decision, noting it was the result of months of deliberation, well before last month’s election. “We’ve had conversations with the incoming administration at various levels and articulated the reasoning behind the decision,” said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.
Trump’s ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin have long drawn scrutiny, dating back to his 2016 campaign when he publicly urged Russia to release Hillary Clinton’s missing emails. Trump has also praised Putin on multiple occasions, once describing him as “pretty smart” for launching the invasion of Ukraine.
Vice President-elect JD Vance has echoed Trump’s stance, suggesting it is counterproductive for the U.S. to treat Moscow as an adversary.
On Monday, Trump renewed his call for both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin to negotiate an end to the war, lamenting the “carnage” caused by the ongoing conflict. However, Trump appeared to acknowledge the difficulty of achieving a resolution, despite previously claiming he could end the war within 24 hours of taking office.
“The Russia-Ukraine situation may actually be more difficult,” Trump said, contrasting it with the Middle East conflicts in Gaza and Syria.
Trump declined to confirm whether he has spoken with Putin since the election.
Earlier this month, Trump met with Zelenskyy in Paris while attending events marking the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials have been working to secure Trump’s continued support for Ukraine.
The battlefield in Ukraine remains fluid, with both sides seeking an advantage to strengthen their negotiating positions in the nearly three-year war. Last week, the Pentagon warned that Russia may soon launch another intermediate-range ballistic missile attack, which Putin first deployed shortly after Biden eased the weapons restrictions.
Putin has since threatened NATO allies that support Ukraine, cautioning that further strikes could escalate the conflict. Biden’s decision to lift restrictions followed months of pressure from Zelenskyy and Western allies, who argued the ban hindered Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities and infrastructure from Russian attacks.
Biden ultimately acted amid growing concerns about Russia enlisting North Korean troops to regain control of the Kursk border region, which Ukraine captured earlier this year.
