Reactions to the United States at the Trump-Putin summit
Donald Trump came out weakened from his meeting with Vladimir Putin, believe several observers, reports the Associated Press agency. “We came back to the point where we were before he left in Alaska”commented Fiona Hill, Trump advisor on Russia in the National Security Council During his first term – Present during the previous meeting with Putin in Helsinki in 2018. She believes that the president comes out of this meeting, because he had to go back on certain positions. “Other leaders will now watch the American president and say to himself that he is not the powerful man he thinks of being, and certainly not the genius of negotiation that he claims to be”she added. According to her, the president is convinced to have “Extraordinary persuasion forces”but it comes out of this summit without having obtained a ceasefire- “The only thing” that he had set himself as an initial objective.
Democrats are not more convinced by the president’s performance: “President Trump has once again been manipulated by Vladimir Putin”reacted Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheenmember of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. “The president unrolled the red carpet and warmly welcomed a deadly dictator on American soil, and (…) He did not get anything concrete in return ”. According to her, “If President Trump refuses to act, the congress must do so by adopting overwhelming sanctions against Russia as soon as we return in the coming weeks”.
The Democratic Senator Chris Murphy added to NBC : he spoke of a “Great day for Russia”saying that Vladimir Putin “Got everything he wanted”including an official photo alongside Donald Trump. « [Le président russe] Voluntarily assassinating civilians, he takes away children, and he has now had the opportunity to stand next to the President of the United States, which, in the eyes of the world, the legitimate “he denounced.
For his part, Former republican vice-president Mike Pencehowever often critical of Donald Trump on international issues, wanted to recognize him a merit. On CNN, he said: “I think it deserves credit, as a leader of the free world, for not having abandoned Ukraine. »»
Republican elected officials are reserved, especially calling for the pursuit of discussions and constructive actions from the Trump administration. “President Trump brought Rwanda and the DRC to an agreement, India and Pakistan to an agreement, Armenia and Azerbaijan to an agreement. I believe in our president and I think he will do what he always does: take up the challenge ”said the representative Brian Mast, elected from Florida and president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.
Lisa Murkowski, republican senator from Alaskawrote on social networks after the summit that “Even if the press conference has given few details on their meeting”she remained “Prudishly optimistic about signs of a certain advance”. She added that he was “Encouraging to hear the two presidents evoke future meetings”but insisted that Ukraine “Must be part of any negotiated regulations and must freely accept its terms”.
Sur Fox News, Senator Lindsey Grahamclose ally of Trump, said that “The media can tell everything they want on Donald Trump. Peace by force works, and I am proud to be by his side ”. “I have all confidence in the fact that Donald Trump will clearly tell Putin that this war will never start again. And if it were to start again, it would pay a very heavy price. »» The day before, in a message on X, he declared himself “Prudishly optimistic” As for the possibility that war ends “Long before Christmas”if a trilateral summit between Trump, Zelensky and Putin takes place.
