The world is on the edge of disaster. And some are saying Biden is pushing us closer to war.
And now a top Biden official is running scared from this eye-popping nuclear accusation.
Outgoing National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has flatly denied rumors that the Biden administration is weighing the idea of reintroducing nuclear weapons to Ukraine.
These reports follow Ukraine’s decision to relinquish its nuclear arsenal three decades ago after the Soviet Union’s collapse.
The New York Times recently claimed, based on unnamed sources, that some officials have suggested arming Ukraine with nuclear capabilities as a countermeasure against Russia’s aggression. However, Sullivan dismissed the claim outright.
“That is not under consideration. No,” Sullivan told ABC News’ This Week. “What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine so that they can effectively defend themselves and take the fight to the Russians, not nuclear capability.”
Ukraine’s nuclear disarmament stemmed from the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in which the nation handed over its inherited Soviet nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed frustration, citing his nation’s current predicament.
“Which of these major nuclear powers suffered? All of them? No. Ukraine [did],” Zelensky said at a European Council summit in October.
“Who gave up nuclear weapons? All of them? No. Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine.”
As President Biden’s term nears its end, Sullivan underscored the administration’s efforts to arm Ukraine with essential resources before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
Trump, who has vowed to end the war in Ukraine, has offered few details about his strategy but appointed retired Army Gen. Keith Kellogg as a special envoy for the region. Kellogg has historically backed Ukraine and defended recent U.S. decisions to allow Kyiv to target Russian territory with advanced missile systems.
When pressed about speculation that Trump might broker a deal requiring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, Sullivan remained vague. “The key thing, from my perspective, is that Ukraine determine[s] its destiny, and its destiny not be imposed by outside powers, including the United States,” he said.
“The key thing for this year was to try to give Ukraine as many tools as possible so that they could go into that negotiation and feel they could achieve the outcome that they would like to see.”
Zelensky, once adamant about reclaiming all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and Donbas, has recently suggested a more pragmatic approach.
Speaking to Sky News, he proposed placing NATO protection over the regions currently under Ukraine’s control, with the possibility of diplomatically reclaiming other areas later.
Meanwhile, Vice President-elect JD Vance has floated a peace proposal that includes creating a demilitarized zone and Ukraine agreeing to stay out of NATO.
On another front, Sullivan briefly addressed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasizing the need for swift action to secure a ceasefire and broader regional diplomacy.
“We are determined to try to move rapidly, to get those hostages home, get a ceasefire in place, and then move on to this larger deal that we would like to see consummated as soon as possible, including, if possible, while President Biden is still president,” he stated.
As the clock ticks on the Biden presidency, the administration is racing to cement its legacy, both in Ukraine and the broader Middle East.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
