CNN Analyst Brutally Compares Trump to Biden Over His Handling of Putin: ‘Is He Afraid?’
CNN global affairs analyst Kim Dozier joined anchor John Berman on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war. Dozier was asked about President Donald Trump’s posturing toward Vladimir Putin and pulled no punches in explaining Trump’s shortcomings in dealing effectively with Putin – who continues to promise one thing and do another.
“In a shift in approach for Ukrainian allies that has angered the Kremlin, Germany’s chancellor announced that they have lifted the ban on firing long-range missiles into Russia and there are no longer range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine by Germany, Britain, France, and the US,” Berman began, adding:
This comes after Russia unleashed multiple deadly attacks over several days, including overnight that left two people dead, 16 others wounded.
With us now, senior global affairs analyst, Kim Dozier. So these restrictions that the German chancellor is talking about, in weapons that were given to Ukraine by the United States and allies for a long time, and President Biden wanted this too, wanted restrictions, didn’t want Ukraine to be able to shoot them deep into Russia or wherever they wanted. Now the German Chancellor says, have at it. What difference could that make?
“Yeah, doing this in defiance or without seeking the permission of the Trump administration. This means that they can use these weapons. The Ukrainians can hit Russian supply lines, Russian command and control nodes, the same kind of things that the Russians are doing to the Ukrainians,” Dozier replied, adding:
It levels the playing field somewhat, but what they really need is permission to do the same thing with all the U.S.-directly supplied weaponry. And they need continuing supplies to be able to continue to prosecute the fight as Russian troops are apparently readying for a summer offensive.
“And whether those supplies continue in the numbers that they have over the last few years, that’s one of the major questions now facing Ukraine, really. Facing the world. President Trump expressed surprise over the weekend that Vladimir Putin and Russia continue to attack Ukraine. What does that tell you? If he’s really surprised, what does that say to you?” Berman followed up.
“That every time Putin talks to him, as he did last week in a long two-hour-plus conversation, Putin manages to convince Trump that he is taking some steps towards negotiation, towards ceasefire. The Kremlin has said that they’re about to come out with a memo that Putin promised Trump last week on how they would go forward with a ceasefire, but it keeps not happening,” Dozier answered, adding:
And Trump’s tweet over the weekend got dismissed by the Kremlin as emotional. When you talk to Ukrainians and Europeans about this, they’re like, when is he going to get it that Putin is playing him? Is he afraid of Putin? He seems to be as risk-averse as Biden was, fearful that Putin might use nuclear weapons.
“And President Trump is said to be considering new sanctions against Russia, nothing definite at this point. How much would new sanctions make a difference?” Berman asked.
“The sanctions would be symbolic but important for morale on the ground in Ukraine,” Dozier replied, but argued their actual impact may be limited as Russia is already under heavy sanctions.
Watch the clip above via CNN.
