President-elect Donald Trump expressed strong opposition in an interview published Thursday, stating he disagrees “vehemently” with Ukraine using U.S.-supplied missiles deep into Russia. However, Trump emphasized that he would not withdraw support for Ukraine, asserting that U.S. backing remains crucial for efforts to end the conflict.
The U.S. has provided long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, capable of striking deep inside Russia, prompting a sharp response from Moscow using new hypersonic weapons. “I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that?” Trump said in an interview with Time Magazine, which named him its “Person of the Year” on Thursday.
The ATACMS missiles have a maximum range of 190 miles (300 kilometers), according to public data.
The interview was conducted prior to Thanksgiving and Trump’s high-profile meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which was brokered by France’s president during the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral.
“We’re just escalating this war and making it worse,” Trump stated.
When questioned about his continued support for Ukraine—support that has often been questioned by Republicans concerned about the financial costs—Trump insisted he would use the U.S. backing as leverage to negotiate a peace settlement.
“I want to reach an agreement, and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon them,” he said.
Russian news outlets have seized on Trump’s comments, highlighting his apparent criticism of Kyiv’s military strategy.
