US president says Russian counterpart ‘doing what anybody else would do’ as Ukraine faces escalating aerial attacks

Donald Trump has said Vladimir Putin was “doing what anybody would do” after Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike on Ukraine days after the US cut off vital intelligence and military aid to Kyiv.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday Trump said he finds it “easier” to work with Russia than Ukraine and that Putin “wants to end the war”.

“I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have the cards,” Trump said. “In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia.”

Asked whether the Russian leader was taking advantage of the pause in US intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine, Trump replied: “I actually think he is doing what anybody else would do.”

  • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
    10·
    2 days ago

    NATO looked like the next coming of the Axis powers to Russia and can you blame them?

    Yes?

    And as for the rest: Putin has a long and sordid history of ignoring treaties with former parts of the USSR. He dangles the carrot and then hits with the stick if any of the soviet states actually try to eat it.

    Russia wants Ukraine to become another Belarus or Georgia. Ukraine does not want that. Ukraine is a sovereign nation and does not want to invade Russia or take its land. Neither does NATO.

    After that, your argument completely falls apart. It’s no more than the excuse, but has no grounding in reality.

      • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
        10·
        2 days ago

        You don’t get out much, do you?

        The only place that narrative is still accepted is inside Russia.

        Oh, and it’s not a civil war when one of the combatants is significantly made up of foreigners from Russia.

        Next thing you know, you’ll be saying that Ukraine is really just a disputed Russian territory because they rejected their democratically elected Russian selected leader.