In his first interview since leaving the White House, former President Joe Biden told the BBC that the Trump administration’s pressure on Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia represents “modern-day appeasement.” Speaking from Delaware as Allied nations mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Biden warned that conceding Ukrainian land would only embolden President Putin and potentially fracture crucial U.S.-European alliances.
Criticism of Ukraine Territorial Concessions
Biden delivered a pointed rebuke of the current administration’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, comparing it to Neville Chamberlain’s failed policy of appeasing Hitler in the 1930s. “Anybody that thinks he’s going to stop if some territory is conceded as part of a peace deal is just foolish,” Biden stated, referencing Putin’s territorial ambitions. He elaborated that the Russian leader believes Ukraine belongs to “mother Russia” and warned against underestimating Putin’s expansionist goals.
The criticism comes as Trump’s administration has shifted U.S. policy toward advocating for a ceasefire while easing pressure on Russia. Vice President JD Vance recently outlined a peace plan that would “freeze the territorial lines… close to where they are today,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called Ukraine’s return to pre-2014 borders “unrealistic.” Reports suggest current U.S. proposals include formal recognition of Crimea as Russian territory and de facto acknowledgment of other occupied Ukrainian regions.
Biden specifically questioned the logic behind territorial concessions: “I just don’t understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to decide he’s going to take significant portions of land that aren’t his, that that’s going to satisfy him.” He expressed concern that such concessions could prompt NATO countries bordering Russia to feel compelled to make similar accommodations.
Alliance Concerns and U.S. Global Leadership
The former president emphasized the importance of maintaining strong transatlantic relationships, voicing “grave concern” that “Europe is going to lose confidence in the certainty of America and the leadership of America” under the current administration. He portrayed European leaders as uncertain about American reliability, questioning: “Can I rely on the United States? Are they going to be there?”
“I don’t understand how they fail to understand that there’s strength in alliances,” Biden remarked about the Trump administration. “There’s benefits… It saves us money overall.” He highlighted that while the U.S. remains Ukraine’s largest single donor, European countries combined have contributed more, according to the Kiel Institute.
Biden warned that a breakdown in U.S.-European relations “would change the modern history of the world,” adding, “We [the U.S.] are the only nation in a position to lead the world, otherwise you are going to have China or the Russian Soviet Union stepping up. Imagine if there was no NATO, do you think Putin would have stopped at Ukraine?”
Biden’s Defense of Ukraine Support Record
When challenged on whether his own administration provided enough support for Ukraine to win rather than merely resist Russia’s invasion, Biden defended his record: “We gave them everything they needed to provide for their independence, and we were prepared to respond more aggressively if Putin moved again.”
This assertion comes amid criticism that Biden’s White House shifted its position on Ukrainian use of U.S.-supplied weapons multiple times, gradually lifting restrictions over the three years of conflict. By contrast, Trump has not approved any new military aid packages for Ukraine since returning to office in January 2025, despite his unfulfilled campaign pledge to end the war within 24 days.
Reflections on Trump’s First 100 Days
Biden expressed displeasure with the February White House meeting between Trump, his officials, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which devolved into public criticism of the Ukrainian leader. “I found it sort of beneath America in the way that took place,” Biden said.
When asked about Trump’s celebration of his first 100 days in office, which has featured executive actions and federal government cuts, Biden highlighted contrasts with his own administration’s record: “Our economy was growing. We were moving in a direction where the stock market was way up. We were in a situation where we were expanding our influence around the world in a positive way, increasing trade.”
Of Trump’s self-proclaimed triumphant start, Biden tersely responded: “I’ll let history judge that. I don’t see anything that was triumphant.”
Personal Reflections on Leaving the Race
Biden also addressed his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following a poor debate performance that raised concerns about his fitness and threw the Democratic Party into crisis. When pressed on whether he should have stepped aside earlier to allow more time for selecting a replacement, Biden defended his timing: “I don’t think it would have mattered. We left at a time when we had a good candidate.”
He acknowledged the difficulty of his decision, adding: “Things moved so quickly that it made it difficult to walk away. And it was a hard decision. I think it was the right decision… it was just a difficult decision.”
Beyond Ukraine, Biden criticized Trump’s statements about taking back the Panama Canal, acquiring Greenland, and making Canada the 51st state. “What the hell’s going on here? What president ever talks like that?” he asked. “That’s not who we are. We’re about freedom, democracy, opportunity, not about confiscation.”
As Trump’s administration has reduced its mediation role in the Ukraine conflict, with State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce recently saying the matter “is now between the two parties,” Biden’s critique represents a rare early break from the tradition of former presidents avoiding criticism of their successors during their initial months in office.
