Trump criticizes approval for Ukraine to strike Russia with US missiles
Photo: Donald Trump, 47th President of the United States of America (Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump condemned the permission for Ukraine to use US long-range missiles against Russia, as it allegedly escalates the war, according to Trump’s interview with TIME magazine.
During the interview, Trump admitted that the crisis in the Middle East was easier to handle than a full-scale war in Ukraine, calling the latter “crazy.”
He also criticized Ukraine’s use of US-supplied missiles to strike targets inside Russia.
"I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We’re just escalating this war and making it worse," Trump stated.
When asked if he would "abandon" Ukraine, the 47th US President said he plans to use support for Kyiv as leverage in negotiations with Russia to end the war.
"I want to reach an agreement, and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon," he added.
Strikes deep into Russia
In mid-November, media outlets reported, citing U.S. officials, that President Joe Biden's administration approved Ukraine’s use of ATACMS long-range missiles to target Russian territory. Commenting on this, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the missiles will speak for themselves. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also confirmed that Ukraine received approval.
Shortly after, a Defense Forces source informed RBC-Ukraine that Ukraine’s military had carried out its first strike on Russian territory using ATACMS ballistic missiles.
Read more about whether Trump could ban Ukraine from using American long-range missiles against Russian territory in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
