Trump criticizes Ukraine’s use of US missiles for attacks deep into Russia

By Steve Holland and Helen Coster

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump criticized Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory in an interview published by Time magazine on Thursday, comments that suggest he could change U.S. policy toward of Ukraine.

“It’s crazy what’s happening. It’s crazy. I strongly disagree with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why do we do this? We are only escalating this war and making it worse. This should not have been allowed to happen. ,” Trump said in an interview to mark being named Time’s Person of the Year.

President Joe Biden last month lifted a US ban on Ukraine’s use of longer-range US-supplied missiles for strikes deep into Russia, his latest attempt to galvanize Kiev in its fight to repel a Russian invasion force from its country .

The decision came at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The White House cited Russia’s deployment of 15,000 North Korean troops along the battlefront as the main reason for Biden’s change of heart.

Trump said he would like to quickly end the nearly three-year war, but was tight-lipped on the details. He told Time that he has a “very good plan” to help, but that if he reveals it now, it “becomes almost a worthless plan.”

Pressed on whether he would abandon Ukraine, Trump said: “I want to get a deal, and the only way you’re going to get a deal is if you don’t get out.”

He said the entry of North Korean troops into the picture was a “very complicating factor”.

Trump, who takes office on January 20, met with Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last weekend. Trump’s promise to quickly end the conflict has raised concerns in Kiev that it could be largely on Moscow’s terms.

Sources told Reuters that Zelenskiy used the meeting to explain Ukraine’s need for security guarantees in any negotiated end to the war with Russia. He has long sought NATO membership.

Trump told Time that the number of people dying in the conflict, especially in the last month, was “amazing.”

“I’m talking from both sides. It’s really a win-win for both sides to get this done,” he said.

Asked if he would cut US military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine if Kiev does not agree to a peace deal, Trump said: “I think I have a very good plan to help, but when I start laying out that plan, it becomes almost worthless. plan.”

The war is entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its final and most dangerous phase as Moscow’s forces advance at their fastest pace since the first weeks of the conflict.

Russia launched a hypersonic ballistic missile known as the Oreshnik at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on November 21. President Vladimir Putin framed the move as a response to Ukraine’s first use of US ATACM ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadows to strike Russian territory with Western permission. .

Washington says more shipments of US air defense exports to Ukraine are on their way to the country.

The United States last Saturday unveiled a $988 million aid package with new weapons and equipment for Ukraine.

Asked if he had spoken to Putin since his election, Trump declined to answer, saying: “I can’t tell you. I can’t tell you. It’s just inappropriate.”

(Reporting by Helen Coster and Steve Holland; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)