Asked about the role that the United States should play in the conflict that is unfolding on the Ukrainian border, with the advance of Russian troops, former President Donald Trump said it was a “European problem”. “Europe must be fully involved,” the Republican said on Friday (28), during an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck.
Trump’s provocation is aimed at his successor in the White House, Joe Biden, who has been adopting a stance contrary to the omission suggested by the conservative politician. The US president has raised the alarm about the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, put 8,500 troops on standby for immediate deployment to Eastern Europe and declared that he must move US troops “in the short term”.
Trump criticized the diplomatic negotiation tactics adopted by the US and suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin was encouraged to invade Ukraine. “I think two weeks ago he had no intention of doing that. He was just trading and doing his trick, which he likes to do,” he said. “But now he’s seeing that this is the way because of the stupid people he’s dealing with.”
Washington has been one of the main diplomatic actors trying to defuse the conflict in Eastern Europe, which escalated when Moscow moved a continent of 100,000 to 175,000 troops to Ukrainian borders. The bilateral talks have had little practical effect so far, with the US denying requests made by Russia, such as the return of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to its size before the absorption of ex-Communist members.
The US reiterated this Saturday (29) that there are concrete indications that Putin would be ready to invade Ukraine. That’s because the Russian military contingent on the border already has stocks of blood and other medical supplies that would allow treatment of eventual victims, three government officials, on condition of anonymity, told the Reuters news agency.
During the interview with Glenn Beck, Trump also criticized another character in the dialogues – this one, however, much more shy. The Republican said that Germany is controlled by Russia because of Nord Stream 2, the undersea pipeline that connects the two countries under the Baltic Sea, allows the Russians to double their gas exports to Europe and has generated a geopolitical imbroglio.
“[Foi] one of the dumbest movements I’ve ever seen,” he said. “That means Russia controls them. Russia owns Germany,” continued Trump, who, as president, imposed sanctions on companies involved in the work, forcing a temporary halt to construction.
“They’re getting their energy from Russia, so Russia has full control over Germany, and Germany is saying, ‘Oh well, we don’t want to fight them.’ energy.”
A little less than two weeks ago, the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, said that the country would be willing, yes, to defend Kiev. “There is no other option, even if it means paying a high economic price,” said the minister, referring, among other things, to the possible consequences for Nord Stream 2.
Germany, however, drew criticism from Kiev this week after saying no to a request to send arms to help the country. The Ukrainian foreign ministry even said that Prime Minister Olaf Scholz’s government was encouraging Putin to proceed with an invasion.
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Source: Folha
