Donald Trump has refrained from committing to keeping US to NATO, in his first television interview since being elected president.

In his interview on NBC, the new U.S. president made no commitment to keep the United States the western military alliance that has been a bulwark against Russia since World War II. “If they pay their bills, absolutely,” he said, he would maintain America’s role in the alliance.

Trump said he is trying to end the war in Ukraine “if he can,” adding that Kiev might not receive the same military aid it was getting from the Biden administration once he takes over.

Regarding Bashar al-Assad, Trump commented that “it’s amazing because he stayed in power for years under much more adverse conditions and suddenly the rebels go and take over large chunks of territory.”