President-elect Donald Trump promised in a wide-ranging Time magazine interview published Thursday that he will not “abandon” Ukraine amid its nearly three-year-long war — but called the Biden administration’s decision to green-light launching long-range missiles into Russia “the most dangerous thing.”
Trump, 78, has long sought peace between the nations but rarely discussed details on how he would negotiate an end to the conflict, before sitting down with Time as he was named the outlet’s “Person of the Year” for 2024.
“I want to reach an agreement, and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon,” the once and future president said after being pressed on his plans for Ukraine.
“I think the most dangerous thing right now is what’s happening,” he went on later, “where [Ukraine President Volodymyr] Zelensky has decided, with the approval of, I assume, the president [Biden], to start shooting missiles into Russia.”
“I think that’s a major escalation. I think it’s a foolish decision. But I would imagine people are waiting until I get in before anything happens. I would imagine. I think that would be very smart to do that,” he added.
In late November, President Biden authorized the use of American-made long-range missiles for Ukraine to strike Russia’s Kursk region, the first time Kyiv launched the powerful weapons in 1,000 days of war, a US official previously told The Post.
But an initial barrage of six ATACMS ballistic missiles struck an ammunition supply location in the region of Bryansk on Nov. 19 — prompting speculation about whether the attack violated Biden’s terms of engagement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded two days later by firing a nuclear-capable ballistic missile into Ukraine, though a top Kremlin military officer later denied the strike was retaliatory.
On Thursday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh warned that the Kremlin was considering launching a new lethal intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine less than 40 days before Trump takes office.
The “Art of the Deal” author has mostly kept quiet about his negotiating tactics as he prepares to enter talks with Zelensky and Putin.
“I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that?” Trump asked.
“We’re just escalating this war and making it worse,” he declared. “That should not have been allowed to be done. Now they’re doing not only missiles, but they’re doing other types of weapons. And I think that’s a very big mistake, very big mistake.”
Trump also spoke at length about the despair he feels over the mounting casualties.
“The number of people dying is number one, not sustainable, and I’m talking on both sides,” the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president said. “It’s really an advantage to both sides to get this thing done.”
“Putin would have never invaded Ukraine if I were president for numerous reasons,” he explained. “Number one, they drove up the oil price. When they drove up the oil price, they made it a profit-making situation for him, the oil price should have been driven down. If it was driven down, you wouldn’t have had, it wouldn’t have started just for pure economic reasons. But when it hits $80, $85, and $90 a barrel.”
“I mean, he made, he made a lot of money. I’m not saying it’s a good thing, because he’s also suffered, but they are moving forward,” he assessed. “You know, this is a war that’s been — this is a tragedy. This is death that’s far greater than anyone knows. When the real numbers come out, you’re going to see numbers that you’re not going to believe.”
Trump told The Post on Sunday he spoke to Zelensky about a possible peace deal during their meeting on the sidelines of the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris.
He said that while they did not discuss the “details” of the annexed Ukrainian regions in the Crimea and Donbas, Zelensky said he was ready for “peace.”
“He wants to have a cease-fire,” Trump said of his Ukrainian counterpart. “He wants to make peace. We didn’t talk about the details. He thinks it’s time, and Putin should think it’s time because he’s lost — when you lose 700,000 people, it’s time. It’s not going to end until there’s a peace.”
Reps for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.