Former US President Donald Trump has described Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine as “ingenious” and “clever”. Regarding Putin’s recent decisions, Trump said in a conservative radio talk show on Tuesday: “This is brilliant.” The Kremlin chief is declaring a large part of Ukraine independent and is sending “peacekeeping troops” there. “How smart is that?”
Referring to Putin, Trump continued: “This is a man who is very smart. I know him very well.” At the same time, the Republican claimed that it would not have happened with him as president: “It would never have happened with us.” That would have been unthinkable with him in office, Trump said. He accused his successor, Joe Biden, of failing to deal with Russia.
When asked about Trump’s comment, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Tuesday evening (local time): “As a matter of principle, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy.”
Russia involved in US elections?
Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday. The Kremlin boss ordered the dispatch of Russian soldiers. He is planning an invasion of Ukraine for the second time since 2014. The West accuses him of violating international law.
Trump had previously criticized Biden’s course in the Ukraine crisis and claimed that if he were president, tensions with Russia would never have escalated to such an extent: no one had ever been harder on Russia, and he and Putin would have respected each other. Critics, on the other hand, had accused Trump of treating the Kremlin boss with kid gloves during his tenure. According to US investigative authorities, the Russian government interfered “in a comprehensive and systematic manner” in the 2016 US presidential election, from which Trump emerged victorious at the time.
Cuba stands behind Moscow
In the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Cuba placed behind Moscow. A report on Russia’s recognition of two so-called People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine said on Tuesday in the Communist Party newspaper Granma of Cuba: “The Kremlin is acting very cautiously and is calling for a peaceful solution, while Europe fans the flames and stokes the fire.”
The Communist Party is the only one in Cuba approved. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the Soviet Union was the most important ally of the socialist Caribbean state until its collapse.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro also backed Russia. “Venezuela pledges its full support to President Vladimir Putin in defending peace in Russia, in defending peace in the region and in boldly defending his people,” the authoritarian leader said in a televised speech.
The President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, also expressed his support for the actions of Russian President Putin. Russia is only defending itself, Ortega said in a speech on Monday (local time). Many in the Central American country accuse the former left-wing revolutionary of having turned into a dictator.
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Source: Nachrichten
