President Joe Biden will discuss the key priorities of U.S. domestic and foreign policy with elected President Donald Trump during a meeting scheduled for Wednesday at the White House, said U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday.
In an interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Mr. Sullivan said the main message from President Biden will be a commitment to ensuring a peaceful transfer of power. According to Mr. Sullivan, President Biden will also discuss possible developments in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East with President-elect Trump.
One key topic is likely to be Ukraine’s war with Russia, which President-elect Trump has pledged to end quickly, although he has not provided specifics.
“President Biden will have the opportunity, during the next 70 days, to present Congress and the incoming administration with the arguments that the United States should not reduce support for Ukraine and that withdrawal from Ukraine would lead to more instability in Europe,” said Mr. Sullivan.
“President Biden will argue the need for continued resources for Ukraine after the end of his term,” said Mr. Sullivan.
“President Biden will have the chance to explain to Mr. Trump how he assesses the situation and seek Mr. Trump’s opinion on how he will handle these issues when he takes office,” said the National Security Advisor.
Washington has provided Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in military and economic aid since Russia began its invasion in February 2022. President-elect Trump has consistently criticized this aid.
He insisted last year that President Vladimir Putin would never have launched the attack on Ukraine if he had been in the White House at the time. He told Reuters news agency that Ukraine might need to give up some of its territory to reach a peace agreement, something the Ukrainians reject, and President Biden has never suggested.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said that it is Hamas, not Israel, that is blocking a ceasefire in Gaza.
Mr. Sullivan said during the interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the United States would consider allowing Israel to send humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a letter to Israel last month asking for permission to allow a certain number of trucks carrying aid to enter Gaza.
