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.”
In other words, he would have allowed them to draw NATO into a conflict, but not to do anything to deter actual aggression or make it possible for NATO to fight effectively if called upon to do so. And any such conditions would violate Ukraine’s sovereignty. Free countries can ally themselves with whoever they want to.
So you are part of the To the last Ukrainian camp. You know Russia is not going to withdraw from Ukraine unless Ukraine surrenders. You know Ukraine has no chance to win. But instead of demanding Ukraine to make peace, you want the war to continue including all of the horrible suffering it has caused.