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Biden’s withdrawal from US presidential race spells new uncertainty for Ukraine
- Prospect of Trump victory has long concerned Kyiv, which fears he would end support and force Ukraine to sue for peace, benefiting Russia
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US President Joe Biden’s decision to end his campaign for re-election brings a new element of uncertainty for Ukraine, which is struggling to fend off Russian advances even as it worries about the future of American support.
The prospect of victory for former president Donald Trump, the Republican contender, has long concerned Kyiv, which fears he would choke off support and force Ukraine to sue for peace on terms that favour Russia.
But while the Democrats hope Biden’s decision to drop out and endorse Vice-President Kamala Harris will inject energy into their campaign, it is unclear whether it makes Trump’s defeat more likely. Officials in Moscow, widely thought to favour Trump, were non-committal.
Kyiv resident Yulia Loginova said she found it impossible to predict how Biden’s departure would affect Ukraine.
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“I don’t know, honestly,” she said. “Surprises every day. But he did the right thing.”
Phillips O’Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, said Biden’s withdrawal “changes the narrative of the campaign”, but it is too soon to say how much it will alter the dynamic of the presidential election.
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“If it makes the Democrats more likely to win, then Ukraine’s happy,” he said. “I don’t think a Harris administration would be that different from a Biden administration.”
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