Former U.S. President Joe Biden has sharply criticized Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, accusing him of pressuring Kyiv to surrender land to Russia in what he described as “modern-day appeasement.”

In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 4, Biden warned that encouraging Ukraine to concede territory as part of a peace settlement would not satisfy Russian President Vladimir Putin, but instead embolden further aggression. “Anyone who thinks he’ll stop there is just foolish,” Biden said during the conversation from Delaware.

Biden’s comments come as the Trump administration hints at a new U.S. position on ending the war, with Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggesting Ukraine should accept current territorial losses to achieve peace. Biden compared the approach to pre-WWII appeasement policies that failed to stop Adolf Hitler.

“Putin believes Ukraine is part of Russia. Allowing him to take territory will not bring peace—it will encourage more conquest,” Biden warned.

The former president also took aim at Trump’s broader foreign policy, questioning his rhetoric around acquiring Greenland, reclaiming the Panama Canal, and turning Canada into a U.S. state. “What president talks like that? That’s not who we are,” he said. “We’re about freedom, democracy—not confiscation.”

Biden expressed deep concern about the current strain in U.S.-European relations, especially as NATO marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day. He cautioned that Trump’s approach could break the trust that has underpinned transatlantic alliances for decades. “Europe is starting to wonder if they can count on us,” he said.

In reflecting on his own presidency, Biden defended the level of support he provided to Ukraine during his term, saying his administration gave Kyiv “everything they needed” to resist Russia’s invasion and was prepared to escalate if Putin advanced further.

He also addressed his late decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following a widely criticized debate performance. “It was a hard decision, but the right one,” Biden said. “I don’t think leaving earlier would’ve made much difference.”

Biden refused to directly criticize Trump’s first 100 days back in office, but offered a subtle comparison. “When I left, the economy was growing, trade was increasing, and America’s global influence was rising. I’ll let history judge what came after,” he said.

The U.S. remains Ukraine’s largest single military donor, though European countries have collectively spent more, according to the Kiel Institute. Biden stressed that strong alliances save money and strengthen global influence. “There’s value in partnerships. I don’t understand why that’s so hard to see,” he said.

On recent remarks by Trump and his allies pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be more “grateful” for American support, Biden said he found the behavior “beneath America.”

As reports swirl of U.S. proposals to recognize Russian control of parts of Ukraine—including Crimea—Biden made his position clear: “Letting a dictator redraw borders by force is not a path to peace—it’s a path to more war.”


By WafricNews Desk.