Leubsdorf: For next president, foreign policy will be first priority

Harris made it clear she will continue President Joe Biden’s policy of mobilizing allied support in Europe to assist the embattled former Soviet republic’s efforts to resist Russian aggression and maintain its independence.

“Through the work that I and others did, we brought 50 countries together to support Ukraine in its righteous defense,” she said, citing her several meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “And because of our support, because of the air defense, the ammunition, the artillery, the Javelins, the Abrams tanks that we have provided, Ukraine stands as an independent and free country.”

Trump twice refused to say in response to direct questions whether he wants Ukraine to win the war — or to specify anything he would do to assist it.

“I want the war to stop,” he said. “I want to save lives that are being uselessly — people being killed by the millions.”

He promised, as he has repeatedly, that “I’ll get the war with Ukraine and Russia ended.” He said: “I know Zelenskyy very well, and I know (Russian President Vladimir) Putin very well. I have a good relationship.” (As president, Trump pressured Zelenskyy to reopen an investigation of the Biden family, and he called Putin’s invasion of Ukraine “genius” and “savvy.”)

“I believe the reason that Donald Trump says that this war would be over within 24 hours is because he would just give it up,” Harris responded. “Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe. Starting with Poland.”

And she noted the issue’s potential domestic political implications by pointedly asking Trump: “Why don’t you tell the 800,000 Polish Americans right here in Pennsylvania how quickly you would give up for the sake of favor and what you think is a friendship with what is known to be a dictator who would eat you for lunch?”

Trump inaccurately said a pre-war meeting between Harris and Zelenskyy was a negotiating session to avoid war, rather than an effort to warn him of the impending invasion. “They sent her in to negotiate with Zelenskyy and Putin. And the war started three days later,” he said.

She accused Trump of lying, declaring, “The American people have a right to rely on a president who understands the significance of America’s role and responsibility in terms of ensuring that there is stability and ensuring we stand up for our principles and not sell them for the benefit of personal flattery.”

Their discussion of the Middle East produced less clarity.

Asked how she would deal with the stalled Israeli-Hamas talks seeking a cease-fire in Gaza and the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, Harris echoed Biden’s policies, reiterating Israel’s right to defend itself and adding that “far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.” Asked how he would negotiate with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and achieve a cease-fire, Trump replied, “If I were president, it would never have started.”

Left unspoken was that Netanyahu, who has a close personal relationship with Trump, has repeatedly resisted Biden’s entreaties for an agreement with Hamas, prompting speculation that he is stalling until he sees if Trump wins the election. Netanyahu certainly got no indication that Harris would be any less insistent than Biden nor that Trump would pressure him.

As with Ukraine, their responses indicated there would be continuity under a President Harris and uncertainty under a President Trump.