Retired Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, who previously served as a national security advisor to Donald Trump, has suggested that the forthcoming months are vitally important in shaping the future direction of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. With the incoming president expected to strive for a negotiated peace agreement, the importance of the next few months cannot be overstated.
In an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” McMaster suggested that both Ukraine and Russia are likely to push for as many battlefield victories as possible before the transition to the new Trump administration. This, he argued, would give each nation greater bargaining power in future negotiations.
In a bid to bolster Ukraine’s position ahead of Trump’s return to the Oval Office, the Biden administration recently sanctioned the supply of anti-personnel land mines and lifted restrictions on the use of long-range American-made missiles capable of reaching Russian territory. This comes as Ukraine commemorates over 1,000 days since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
However, some of Trump’s proposed appointees for high-ranking positions in his administration, including Rep. Mike Waltz for National Security Advisor, Sen. Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, and JD Vance for Vice President, have either been unsupportive of continuing aid to Ukraine, or have advocated for a negotiated resolution to the conflict. McMaster sees this as a significant issue, causing a psychological impact on Ukraine.
McMaster emphasized the importance of Ukraine having the necessary weapons, training, and confidence to succeed in their defensive efforts. He also expressed hope that Trump and his appointees would recognize the broader implications of the Ukrainian conflict, including North Korea’s involvement in European warfare, China’s support of Russia’s war efforts, and the supply of drones and missiles from Iran.
McMaster also stressed the Senate’s crucial role in ensuring the best possible candidates are appointed to key national security and defense posts. He suggested that Trump’s nominees for roles such as Director of National Intelligence and Defense Secretary should be probed on their understanding of what motivates Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Finally, McMaster expressed concern over former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s proposed appointment as Director of National Intelligence, due to her controversial views on Russia and other U.S. adversaries. He also criticized Trump’s recent selection of Sebastian Gorka as a senior advisor, doubting his suitability for advising on national security.
