Biden speaks to Ukrainians in Nantucket, says he’s still ‘pushing hard’ for Ukraine

NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS: During​‍​‌‍​‍‌ a trip to Nantucket, former President Joe Biden explained to a group of Ukrainian expats that he was "pushing hard" for Ukraine, a statement that has raised eyebrows.

The brief interaction, which was recorded by a bystander and has been shared by many people, has caused a discussion about the presence of Biden, which some people characterize as "shadow diplomacy" while he is out of power.

Woman thanks Biden for his support of Ukraine

The reported encounter happened as Joe Biden was walking through the island town, meeting with the local people and people doing their shopping, which is a part of what has been the former president's regular pattern of public appearances since leaving ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌office in January.

At one point in the video segment that local media shared, Biden made his way over to a group of Ukrainian women in Nantucket and told them, “By the way, I keep pushing as hard as I can [for Ukraine].”

“Thank you so much for your support of Ukraine,” a woman replied.

The remark, which seemed to be thrown in a kind of short and friendly exchange, has led some people to recognize it as an informal way to let them know that the support will go on even without formal governmental channels.

Biden's controversial legacy over Ukraine support

Supporters contend that such utterances reflect Joe Biden's permanent stance to be on the side of Ukraine.

During his administration, Biden made America a major influencer and an indispensable friend of the Ukrainian people's right to live in peace and their self-defense. He rallied a global coalition to support Kyiv's resistance against the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌aggressor.

Toward the end of Biden's term, Congress had approved nearly $175 billion worth of aid since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, and the Biden administration announced $8 billion in military aid for Ukraine during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington, DC, in September 2024.

The US continues to face the aftermath of fast and large aid deliveries, such as the shortage of munitions and postponed domestic ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌restocking. The Pentagon has also halted certain weapons shipments to Ukraine amid concern about the US military’s stockpiles.