Speaking today in a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May, President Trump downplayed the chances of a quick move to lift sanctions on Russia, insisting that he is still very early in the process of considering sanctions relief for the nation.
May made it clear she opposes the sanctions relief, saying she wants to see the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement on the East Ukrainian Civil War before any relief happens. The Minsk ceasefire agreement has been largely holding for the past two years, but has not been fully implemented, with a deal on allowing local elections in Eastern Ukraine being resisted by the Ukrainian government.
Trump insisted again that he remains committed to improving US-Russia relations, something which much of the rest of NATO loudly opposes, and which probably won’t be possible without lifting a lot of sanctions. It may just not happen in a timely fashion.
Trump’s comments reflect those he made in recent weeks, suggesting he would try to use the Russia sanctions as leverage to negotiate deals with Russia, potential one centering on nuclear disarmament. Russia has clearly hoped for a quicker move, however, and is expected to push Trump to act quickly.
Russophobia serves Trumpophobia now. Before it served military expansion. That has fit the Democrats too well.
We benefit from avoiding a New Cold War. We do not need to prevail completely on every fight we started before we can make peace. We started some stupid things, Ukraine high on that list, Syria too.
So you’re saying that the Repubs will show a contrast from the Dems military expansion. Yes, it could be possible that Trump saying he will expand the Navy is all bluff and bluster. How did you know? If in fact that’s what it really is?
Having a strong military doesn’t necessarily equate to invasions and bombings of countries that are not a threat to us.
I think we can see through the smokescreen in order to be able to ascertain when it does and it doesn’t John. Building a stronger navy with more aircraft carriers is almost strictly offensive. They’re not used as Coast Guard ships! LOL
Look at China now for a parallel. China now understands that expansion of it’s navy is going to require more aircraft carriers as opposed to their historic concentration on defensive requirements. Obviously not to carry the fight to the US but to carry the fight further afield.
Also look at Russia’s current practices and as well, the historic.
Trump is obviously not going to do anything meaningful with Russia on more peaceful relations.
We should give him at least 6 months though, because these things don’t happen overnight. Watching closely for signs that he’s making the situation even worse than it is currently. Trump won’t be able to hide that.
Also, watching Russian news closely will tell us if the situation is staying stable or is getting worse.
luv from Canada.
“Trump is obviously not going to do anything meaningful with Russia on more peaceful relations.”
You get your crystal ball from HRC Colonic Vistas, inc?
Mu wife’s sense of direction is flawless. She says “Turn right”, and I turn left. We arrive at our destination with unerring efficiency. Your prognostications have the same merit. Unerringly wrong. 180 degrees out. A perfect record. Keep up the good work.
love to have you point out the specifics jeff, but I know you can’t.
The positive thing about what you said is that you identified yourself as a Trumper and so I’ll know in the future that you’re coming from never-never land.
luv from Canada.
You consider Don about like I do If he think left is right you best turn right . He seems to be off about 180 degrees
How can you use an unfair and arbitrary thing like the sanctions in order to obtain something fair like a nuclear treaty? Who would agree to have his arm twisted into returning to a negotiating table where they would presumably be treated as equals again ?
The Russians would rightly see this as an effort of the west to clamp down on the ace they’re still holding, their nukes, as a precursor to an attack.
Now that they are surrounded by missile defense systems, a reduction in their nukes would amount to reducing the deterrent they still have.
Are these asses really that stupid ?
No, they aren’t that stupid. Only Trump is that stupid and it’s obvious that nuclear disarmament was the first issue that popped into his vacant skull.
You’ve recognized it as an elephant in the room but it really isn’t. Only complete idiots would suppose Russia would offer up some of it’s nukes in exchange for easing of sanctions.
The British have been drinking polluted water from the Thames for too many generations. Kiev is holding up the implementation of the Minsk accords, not Russia. Kiev was supposed to pass a law defining statehood within Ukraine for eastern Ukraine and to grant amnesty for the fighters and then allow elections. After this was done, then eastern Ukraine would allow Kiev to enter without firing a bullet.
If you lived in Eastern Ukraine, would you disarm first and then wait for pardons? The Kiev govt is scared to pass these laws because of their far right, nationalists. In effect, May is saying that Kiev can unilaterally keep sanctions imposed on Russia forever. This creates an incentive for them to drag their feet on Minsk.
Jan 11, 2017 Trump’s Nominee Rex Tillerson – Putin’s puppet or Pragmatic US Patriot?
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, will face senators for a confirmation hearing Wednesday, where he will tell lawmakers that Russia poses a danger and that NATO allies are rightly concerned about the country’s resurgence, according to his opening remarks, released by the Trump transition team.
https://youtu.be/W8lU7ravG-k
Talking about nukes is of course not the quid pro quo which our President expects from Russia. He expects the greatest possible legal freedom for US companies including his own to make the greatest possible profits by investing in Russia. The events of 1917 show how risky that is.
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