In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Joe Biden criticized the Trump administration's pressure on Ukraine to concede territory to Russia, labeling it "modern-day appeasement.
Screenshot_20250507-063510.png
" This marks Biden's first interview since leaving the White House. During the conversation in Delaware on Monday, Biden expressed his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin views Ukraine as part of Russia. He cautioned that anyone who thinks Putin will halt his aggression following territorial concessions is "just foolish." This interview coincides with Allied nations commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Biden voiced concerns that under Trump's administration, relations between the U.S. and Europe could deteriorate, potentially altering the course of modern history.
While addressing his record on Ukraine, Biden faced scrutiny over whether he had provided sufficient support to ensure Ukraine could defeat Russia, rather than merely defend against its invasion. He highlighted that his administration had progressively adjusted its stance on the provision of U.S. weapons to Ukraine during the past three years.
"We supplied them with everything necessary for their independence and were ready to respond more aggressively should Putin escalate," Biden stated. Biden specifically referred to remarks from Trump's administration suggesting that Ukraine may need to relinquish some territory for a peace settlement. U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently outlined a peace plan that calls for "freezing territorial lines... close to current positions," indicating that both Ukraine and Russia might need to give up some territory.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has echoed such sentiments, deeming a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders as "unrealistic." "The idea of conceding land is akin to modern-day appeasement," Biden remarked, drawing parallels to former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's misguided efforts to placate Adolf Hitler in the late 1930s. Biden expressed concern that European leaders are losing confidence in American leadership, wondering if they can rely on the United States moving forward.
Trump has indicated that he expects Russia to retain control over Crimea, which was annexed in 2014, and recently accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of sabotaging peace talks by rejecting this notion. Reports indicate that U.S. proposals for a ceasefire may include formal recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, as well as acknowledgment of Russian control over additional occupied territories in Ukraine; however, the White House has yet to confirm these details. "I have no favorites—I just want a deal to be made," Trump stated when discussing recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea. Vance added, "Yes, the Ukrainians are understandably angry about being invaded. But are we going to keep losing thousands of soldiers over a few miles of contested land?" The perspective to cede territory is not solely coming from Washington; Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, suggested that Ukraine may need to temporarily forfeit some land. Biden expressed his disbelief that some would think allowing a dictator like Putin to annex significant portions of land would ultimately satisfy him.
He also voiced concerns that NATO countries bordering Russia might feel compelled to make accommodations to Putin if Ukraine were to concede territory. Trump has historically resisted maintaining the military support levels that Biden provided to Ukraine, claiming that his ultimate goal is to end the conflict. He previously criticized Zelensky for leveraging Biden's support for his own advantage. Tensions peaked in February when Trump and Vance publicly confronted Zelensky, demanding greater gratitude for U.S. assistance during a live meeting in the Oval Office, an encounter Biden described as unbecoming for America.
Moreover, Trump and his administration have consistently criticized European nations for underinvesting in their own defense and depending too heavily on U.S. aid. While the U.S. remains the largest single donor to Ukraine, combined European contributions have surpassed U.S. aid, according to the Kiel Institute, a German think tank analyzing aid to Kyiv.
"I don't understand how they fail to grasp the importance of alliances," Biden remarked about the Trump administration's views, emphasizing that such partnerships ultimately save money. In reflecting on Trump's first 100 days in office, which have seen numerous executive actions and budget cuts, Biden sought to highlight the positive state of the country when he left office.
Screenshot_20250507-062823.png
"The economy was growing, the stock market was thriving, and we were expanding our global influence positively," he said. On the other hand, Trump believes he is reshaping the U.S.'s global relationship by rebalancing trade and addressing immigration issues. When asked about Trump's initial achievements, Biden replied, "I'll leave that for history to judge. I don't see anything triumphant.