Breath bated, Russia and Ukraine monitor US as Biden withdraws from race

U.S. President Joe Biden’s Sunday announcement that he will not run for for a second term has pushed the country’s presidential race into unchartered waters — not just domestically, but also with crucial implications for the global stage.

In Ukraine, where Russia’s war of aggression grinds on, both Kyiv and Moscow are waiting to see what any White House changeover might mean on the battlefield come January, when Biden steps down and the winning candidate is sworn in.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for Biden’s steady support for Kyiv throughout his presidency on Sunday, adding that he respects Biden’s “tough but strong decision.”

“The current situation in Ukraine and all of Europe is no less challenging, and we sincerely hope that America’s continued strong leadership will prevent Russian evil from succeeding or making its aggression pay off.”

The U.S., which has supported Kyiv with military, energy and humanitarian aid since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, struggled late last year to pass aid packages in Congress because some Republican lawmakers refused to vote in favor. The impasse broke in April as lawmakers approved $61 billion in support.

If current Vice President Kamala Harris — whom Biden endorsed for the Democratic nomination — becomes president, she is broadly expected to continue many of Biden’s foreign policy objectives, including aid to Ukraine.

Republican nominee Donald Trump, conversely, has pledged he would cut Ukraine aid if he is re-elected and would force Kyiv to agree a peace deal with Russia and cede land the Kremlin has claimed as its own. His pick for running mate, JD Vance, is also vehemently against continuing support for Ukraine and played a key role in trying to kill off a Ukraine aid bill earlier this year.

The U.S., which has supported Kyiv with military, energy and humanitarian aid since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, struggled late last year to pass aid packages in Congress. | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Responding to Biden’s quitting the ticket, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is following developments in the U.S., and that its priority is to continue its war against Ukraine.

“The [U.S.] election is still four months away. And that’s a long time, during which a lot can change. We need to pay attention, follow what will happen next,” Dmitry Peskov told the Telegram news channel Shot.

“The priority for us is the special military operation, not the election results in the United States.”

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev echoed Peskov’s focus.

“That’s it for Biden. So let us wish him good health. The goals of the special military operation will be achieved,” he said on X.

Russian forces have been pushing forward across parts of the front line in eastern Ukraine in recent months, as Zelenskyy pleaded for more weapons and ammunition from Kyiv’s Western allies.

At last week’s European Political Community summit, Zelenskyy called on countries to lift their remaining restrictions on Kyiv’s using Western-made weapons to strike further into Russian territory.

The U.S. and other countries have insisted that donated weapons not be used to hit most targets inside Russia, fearing a reaction from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova fired stronger words at the U.S. on Sunday, blaming Biden for “creating a terrorist state with a terrorist regime.”

Zakharova also claimed Biden hadn’t dropped out of the presidential race voluntarily.

“Everybody knows that. The only thing that’s not clear is whether he even read it [his withdrawal letter]. Grandpa woke up in the morning and they told him — you’re not running for office anymore,” she said.

In a 15-minute speech on Facebook, Moscow-friendly Slovak PM Robert Fico also condemned U.S. involvement in Ukraine.

“Ukraine is just a tool in the hands of advanced Western democracies that decided, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to block all the genuine peace solutions that were on the table in 2022, and instead used the situation to bring Russia to its knees,” Fico said.

“Can the U.S. end the war whenever [they want] because they have influence? Donald Trump says yes, that he will end the war even before entering the office … The clock is ticking, and I hope the truth will come to light.”