US leadership transition: Biden leaves Trump tools to pressure Russia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin believe the Biden administration has left President-elect Donald Trump with significant leverage over Russia concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 

They expressed this view in a jointly authored article for The New York Times, according to Caliber.Az.

“Through the Biden administration’s concerted efforts, including robust support for Kyiv and strong alliances, a foundation has been laid for both Ukraine and the next US administration to utilize,” Blinken and Austin wrote.

They emphasized that the incoming Trump administration should employ these tools to end the conflict in Ukraine on Kyiv's terms and to maintain pressure on Russia.

President Joe Biden also highlighted his administration's achievements in supporting Ukraine during his recent address at the State Department, noting that he has prepared the groundwork for his successor to continue aiding Kyiv.

Despite these efforts, the Kremlin has consistently argued that increasing military aid to Ukraine will neither weaken Russia's resolve nor alter the trajectory of its ongoing special military operation.

President-elect Donald Trump, set to be inaugurated on January 20, 2025, has signalled a markedly different approach. He has vowed to significantly reduce support for Ukraine, raising concerns in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously expressed fears that US aid could diminish under Trump’s leadership.

In an interview with NBC on December 8, Trump stated that Ukraine might not receive the same level of support once he assumes office. Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reported that while Trump has expressed interest in brokering a “deal of the century” on Ukraine, he appears less concerned about Ukraine's strategic importance or its ultimate fate in the conflict.

These contrasting viewpoints suggest a potential shift in US policy toward Ukraine, leaving uncertainty about the future dynamics of the conflict and America’s role in it.

By Tamilla Hasanova