Support for Ukraine is key to US security, Biden urges Trump

President Joe Biden told President-elect Donald Trump that supporting Ukraine was crucial for American national security, underlining that a strong Europe capable of deterring aggressors would prevent the US from being pulled into continental conflicts, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

- Prashant Jha

During a two-hour meeting at the White House on Wednesday that officials described as "gracious, cordial and substantive", Biden countered criticism about Ukraine aid, explaining that the funds were being spent within the US to produce weapons, create jobs and strengthen America's defence industrial base.

Sullivan, who was briefing reporters at the White House and was asked about threats he would flag to his successor, said competition from China ought to be the paramount priority and issues with Iran should be considered an immediate challenge.