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Biden Slams Trump’s Ukraine Stance as ‘Modern-Day Appeasement’

Biden has warned that pressuring Ukraine to give up land to Russia is “modern-day appeasement” and won’t stop Putin.

Former US President Joe Biden has accused the Trump administration of pushing a “modern-day appeasement” strategy by pressuring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, warning that such concessions would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In his first major interview since leaving the White House, Biden in a programme said that expecting peace by giving up parts of Ukraine was a “foolish” miscalculation. “Putin believes Ukraine is part of Russia. Anybody who thinks he’s going to stop if they give up territory is just foolish,” Biden said during the wide-ranging interview from his home in Delaware.

The comments come as the world marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day and reflect growing concerns about the direction of US foreign policy under Trump’s second administration, which has shown signs of favoring a more isolationist stance.

Biden said he was deeply concerned about fraying ties between the US and Europe. “Europe is going to lose confidence in the certainty and leadership of America,” he warned. “Can they still rely on the United States?”

The former president’s remarks follow recent statements by US Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggesting a peace deal might require Ukraine to abandon aspirations of reclaiming territory seized by Russia. Biden flatly rejected this approach, invoking comparisons to Neville Chamberlain’s failed 1930s appeasement of Hitler: “It is modern-day appeasement.”

Biden also reflected on his own record, defending his administration’s support for Ukraine while noting it evolved over time. “We gave them everything they needed to provide for their independence,” he said, adding that his team was prepared to respond “more aggressively” if Russia expanded its aggression.

When pressed on his decision to exit the 2024 presidential race following a difficult debate performance, Biden said, “It was a hard decision… but I think it was the right one.” He dismissed the idea that an earlier withdrawal would have changed the Democratic Party’s trajectory.

Asked about Trump’s controversial suggestions—including acquiring Greenland, reclaiming the Panama Canal, and making Canada the 51st state—Biden expressed disbelief. “What the hell’s going on here? That’s not who we are,” he said.

The interview also touched on Trump’s public berating of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this year. Biden called the Oval Office encounter “beneath America.”

Despite Biden’s criticism, Trump has defended his policies as part of a global reset, focused on protecting American interests and reducing international military commitments. But Biden insisted strong alliances were not only morally right but fiscally smart. “It saves us money overall,” he said.

Asked about Trump’s first 100 days back in office, Biden simply said, “I’ll let history judge that. I don’t see anything that was triumphant.”

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