In my last blog entry (22 January 2025) I wrote that,
"Let us not forget that Putin illegally invaded Ukraine, and illegally incorporated into Russia that part of Ukraine his army still [illegally] occupies."
And true to form, the "bromance" between Putin and Trump is now plain for everyone in the world to see.
"President Donald Trump claimed in part two of a televised interview that the nearly three-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine that started when Moscow’s forces kicked off an [Putin's] invasion [of Ukraine] in 2022 was the fault of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s failure to preemptively capitulate before Russian troops began their attack.
...
He added that had he been in Zelensky’s position he could have “made that deal so easily.” He claimed that it was the Ukrainian leader who decided on hostilities even though it was Putin who ordered the invasion of Ukraine that violated a 1994 agreement. Russia and the United States agreed then to guarantee Kyiv’s security in exchange for Ukraine’s government giving up Soviet-era nuclear weapons that had been stored there before the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union." (The Independent on MSN: 24 January 2025) (my emphasis)
"Out efforts to secure a 'peace settlement' between Russia and Ukraine are now hopefully underway .. It's so important to get that underway"
It should be noted that earlier, during the 2024 US presidential race, he constantly pronounced that he would, "End the war in Ukraine on day one of taking office."
It is also interesting to note that in his speech to the assembled crowd at Davos, Trump, at the end during question time, stated that,
"I knew that it [Ukraine] was the apple of President Putin's eye, but I knew there was no way he was going in, and he wasn't going to go in"
Trump is now loudly and internationally claiming that,
"[Putin's] invasion [of Ukraine] in 2022 was the fault of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s failure to preemptively capitulate before Russian troops began their attack." (ibid Andrew Feinberg)
Now recall that, as reported by Chris Samuel (right) only 3 days ago,
"Donald Trump has warned Vladimir Putin that "he's destroying Russia by not making a deal" as he eyes talks to end the war in Ukraine. (Express: 21 January 2025) (my emphasis)
Now Trump is claiming that Zelensky should have "capitulated" to Putin immediately he invaded Ukraine for the SECOND time in 2022.
"The reality is that the financial underpinnings of Russia’s war economy increasingly look like a house of cards — so much so that senior members of the governing elite are publicly expressing concern." (Financial Times: 12 January 2025) (my emphasis)
Sandbu goes on to further point out that,
Notionally private [i.e. a Shadow Economy], this lending is in reality a creature of the state. Putin has commandeered the Russian banking system, with banks required to lend to companies designated by the government at chosen, preferential terms. The result has been a flood of below-market-rate credit to favoured economic actors." (ibid Martin Sandbu)
Trump, it would now seem, is intent on saving Putin, notwithstanding his warning to Putin that,
"He
[Putin] should make a deal. I think he's destroying Russia by not making a
deal.
"I think Russia's going to be in big trouble," the Republican firebrand added." (ibid Chris Samuel)
Trump's urgency to save Putin is underscored by that fact that at Davos he stated that,
"Out efforts to secure a 'peace settlement' between Russia and Ukraine are now hopefully underway .. It's so important to get that underway" (Hindustan Times: 23 January 2025: YouTube)
Unlike at Helsinki in 2018, when Putin seemed to be in charge of Trump; Trump is now in charge of Putin's destiny.
(to be continued)
No comments:
Post a Comment