Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Mocks Trump’s ‘Vladimir, STOP!’ Message to Putin
Retired Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and retired General Wesley Clark mocked President Donald Trump’s begging Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop bombing Ukraine amid ongoing peace talks during a Thursday morning appearance on CNN’s Situation Room.
In a Thursday morning social media post, Trump wrote, “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!” This followed Russia launching its deadliest wave of attacks against Ukraine’s capital in nine months early Thursday — hours after Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of harming peace talks during a Wednesday press gaggle in the Oval Office.
“Do you think a post from President Trump on social media will actually wind up stopping Putin from launching more attacks on civilians, like in Kyiv, for example, where civilian men, women, and children were just killed in big numbers?” asked Wolf Blitzer.
“Well, I think it would be very surprising if President Trump’s tweet would have any real impact on President Putin,” Ret. General Clark replied. “President Putin sees an opportunity. He sees the United States preparing to turn its back on Europe and especially on Ukraine, and walk away.”
“So this is a moment for Putin, really. It’s what he’s been waiting for,” he continued. “This gives him a clear field to bring pressure to bear against Ukrainian population like this missile strike, and also to go to his allies, China, North Korea, and Iran, and say, ‘Give me more, give me more. This is the moment we can go.”
“We know there are exercises being prepared for this summer in Belarus. Rumors of brigades being ready to attack from Belarus into Kaliningrad to open that gate. This is a really perilous time for Europe. And it’s the opposite time to be pulling back,” he said.
“What President Trump should be saying is, ‘Since you did this, I’m reinforcing U.S. Military assistance to Kyiv, and you can forget about it. We’re going to stay with it until you realize you’re not going to win militarily,'” Clark advised Trump. :That’s what it’s going to take to bring peace to Ukraine.”
Trump had pledged to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine within 24 hours of being elected, but he and his diplomatic team have thus far found it difficult to broker a peace agreement with Russia and Ukraine, going so far as to suggest they will give up any efforts recently.
Watch above via CNN.
