Joe Biden's decision to permit Ukraine to use American-supplied long-range missiles on targets inside Russia was "foolish" and a "major escalation" in the conflict, according to President-elect Donald Trump.
"Anything can happen. Anything can happen. It's a very volatile situation," President-elect Trump said of the Ukraine conflict in an interview with Time on November 25, published on Thursday. "I think the most dangerous thing right now is what's happening, where [Volodymyr] Zelensky has decided, with the approval of, I assume, the president, to start shooting missiles into Russia. I think that's a major escalation. I think it's a foolish decision."
On Thursday, Time announced Trump as its Person of the Year, an accolade given to the individual, group or thing that for "better or for worse did the most to shape the world and the headlines over the past 12 months."
Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to use Army Tactical Missile Systems—or ATACMS—for the strikes in November, following repeated requests to do so from President Zelensky. Ukraine has already fired these missiles at military targets in Kursk and deeper inside Russian territory.
However, President Biden's long-anticipated decision has faced sharp criticism from Moscow, which views this as direct U.S. involvement in the conflict and a precursor to further escalation.
Newsweek has contacted the Biden White House via email for a response to Trump's statement.
"I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia," Trump said in his interview with Time. "Why are we doing that? We're just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done."
Time credited Trump's decisive win over Vice President Kamala Harris, which it said "remade American politics in the process," for him winning the award and declared that, "all of us—from his most fanatical supporters to his most fervent critics—are living in the Age of Trump."
Following his November victory, many have anticipated a shift in the U.S. approach to the Ukraine conflict under his administration, stemming from his campaign pledge to swiftly end the war through negotiations between the two nations' leaders and the increasing skepticism among Republicans regarding U.S. aid to Kyiv.
"I would imagine people are waiting until I get in before anything happens," Trump said to Time regarding Biden's decision on ATACMS. "I would imagine. I think that would be very smart to do that."
Following reports that Biden had authorized the use of the long-range missiles, Russian state media figures said that Trump would overturn the move.
Newsweek has reached out to the Trump transition team for further comment, and to inquire whether the president-elect will overturn the Biden administration's decision once in office.
In Trump's recent interview with NBC's Meet the Press, when asked whether Ukraine should brace for a reduction in American aid following his inauguration, he said: "Possibly. Yeah. Probably. Sure."
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