Former US President Joe Biden has accused Donald Trump of pursuing “modern-day appeasement” toward Russia, warning that the Trump administration’s pressure on Ukraine to concede territory could destabilize global alliances and undermine confidence in American leadership.
In his first interview since leaving office, Biden told the BBC that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Ukraine is rightfully part of Russia.
“Anyone who thinks he’ll stop if territory is conceded is just foolish,” he said, likening Trump’s stance to the failed appeasement policies of the 1930s.
Biden’s comments come as the US and Europe mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Speaking from Delaware, he voiced concern that a breakdown in transatlantic relations under Trump would “change the modern history of the world.”
He also condemned Trump’s past proposals to retake the Panama Canal, annex Greenland, and make Canada the 51st US state.
“What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are,” Biden said. “We’re about freedom, democracy, opportunity—not confiscation.”
Addressing criticism of his own Ukraine policy, Biden said his administration provided Kyiv with “everything they needed to defend their independence” and was prepared to respond more aggressively if Russia escalated.
Biden defended his decision to exit the 2024 presidential race, stating, “We left at a time when we had a good candidate… it was just a difficult decision.”
He also criticised Trump’s Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, calling it “beneath America.”
With mounting pressure from Trump-aligned officials to end the war through territorial concessions, Biden warned that allowing Russia to retain occupied land would embolden dictators worldwide.
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