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.”

  • Em Adespoton
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    2 days ago

    You don’t get out much, do you?

    The only place that narrative is still accepted is inside Russia.

    Oh, and it’s not a civil war when one of the combatants is significantly made up of foreigners from Russia.

    Next thing you know, you’ll be saying that Ukraine is really just a disputed Russian territory because they rejected their democratically elected Russian selected leader.

    • NimdaQA@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Even Ukraine admitted that the vast majority of Separatists were Ukrainians. The Victory Day Massacre occured before Girkin’s intervention. Protestors showed their passports to Vice News showing that they were in fact Ukrainian. Do you want me to PM you the video of the AFU and Azov firing into a crowd of unarmed protestors? People also like to quote Girkin to prove that Russia started the War in the Donbas forgetting the rest of the quote. He acknowledged the movement started before he intervened. What he did say is that it would have been crushed without his support naming the Victory Day Massacre as evidence for this where the AFU put down unrest by simply shooting everyone in the crowd. Russia did provide support to them. Yes. They provided intellgence and leadership with Girkin becoming the leader of the DPR. Russia provided weapons. But the movement was ultimately organic. Russian forces did not storm Ukraine in any significant number until 2015 when they thrown BTGs into Ukraine to stem the tide when DPR and LPR forces were being pushed back.

      • Em Adespoton
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        2 days ago

        I’m curious: what’s your opinion on China’s continually improving relationship with Kazakhstan, and their plans to sever ties with Russia and become a full fledged partner in the belt and road?