Ukraine and NATO under threat by Trump's remarks, which pleases Putin

Whilst the world is now focussing on the imminent inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the US, Unian reports that,

"Combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 41 times in the past 24 hours with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

...

The enemy continued shelling of the Ukrainian positions in all directions. In the Mariupol sector, the militants fired 82mm mortars on the village of Pavlopil, as well as grenade launchers and small arms on the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane and Shyrokyne." (Unian : 17 January, 2017) (my emphasis)

And as the war between Putin and Ukraine continues, US Vice-President Biden has paid his last visit to Ukraine, urging

"...the international community to maintain its unity against the background of Russian aggression, an UNIAN correspondent reported from Biden’s joint presser with President Petro Poroshenko in Kyiv." (Unian : 16 January 2017)(my emphasis)

Biden further urged that,

"The Donald Trump administration should be a strong supporter and partner of Ukraine, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on a visit to Kiev Monday. 

 

Asked if he had received any assurances that Trump would place a similar priority on Ukraine as Barack Obama had done, Biden said “hope springs eternal.” ( Gašper Završnik (right): Politico : 16/1/2017) (my emphasis)

The answer to Biden's question can be gleaned from the interview between Trump and The "Times" and "Bild" newspaper columnists yesterday.

During this interview Trump raised alarms in the EU by stating that,

"Can you understand why eastern Europeans fear Putin and Russia?
Sure. Oh sure, I know that. I mean, I understand what’s going on, I said a long time ago — that Nato had problems. Number one it was obsolete, because it was, you know, designed many, many years ago." (justpaste : 17/01/2017)

To which CNN reports that,

"[Walter] Steinmeier [German Foreign Minister] said he had spoken with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, "who is concerned that President-elect Trump regards NATO as obsolete."

He also noted Trump's position was "in contradiction" to that of James Mattis, Trump's nominee for defense secretary." (CNN : January 16, 2017) (my emphasis)

Is it any surprise that Dmitry Peskov, Putin's Kremlin mouthpiece,

" .... agreed with Trump's assessment of NATO, saying on Monday that "the systematic goal of this organization is confrontation." (ibid CNN) 

 What we shoud bear in mind is that NATO is supporting Ukraine in its war with Putin. 
 
Poroshenko has couched his concerns at Trump's remark about an 'obsolete NATO' in more diplomatic tones.

"[Ukraine President Poroshenko] noted that the risk of spoiling the achievements of postwar cooperation and rolling decades back is high as never before. This always happens when respect to principles, values and international law is lost, said the president. (Unian : 17 January 2017)

Which brings us back to Trump's statement that "NATO is obsolete", and Putin 'jumping with glee' at Trump's remark.

Unian reports that,
 

"Russia is preparing for a full-scale regional war, Russian military expert Pavel Felgenhauer opined, commenting on Russian drills Zapad-2017, which provide for the deployment of personnel of the newly re-created 1st Guards Tank Army of the Western Military District in Belarus, News.online.ua reported." (Unian : 16 January 2017)

 As Felgenhauer (right) speculates,

"Whom could such a mobilization be aimed against? – It is too many people for Syria. It is also too much for the Baltic States, and it would be a suicide against the West to concentrate troops so tightly that they can be annihilated just like Saddam Hussein's army in Iraq. There's only Ukraine that is remaining. This does not mean though that there will be a war, but the preparations by the Russian Federation to a big regional war are in full swing." (ibid Unian) (my emphasis)

This may, indeed be speculation.

However, Trump's interview with The Times/Bild leaves much to be very anxious about.

(to be continued)