Putin fears the US under my leadership, not Europe, Trump says
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump believes Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is not afraid of Europe, but he does fear the United States - under Trump's leadership, according to a White House livestream.
When asked what Europe should do regarding Ukraine, Trump said:
"Europe has been doing so much for Ukraine, but it has not been enough. And obviously I would say that President Putin is not afraid of Europe, he's afraid of the United States of America, which is led by me. There is no fear of Europe," the US president stated.
Trump also expressed the view that Europe "has become a different place" and that it "has to get its act together."
"I will just say to be nice that there are certain places in Europe that are important that are no longer recognizable," he added.
The president, who has European roots, criticized Europe's migration policies and its shift to green energy, noting, "they are putting windmills all over the place and losing a fortune."
During the same discussion, Trump said he has always had great relations with Putin but is disappointed with him regarding the resolution of the war. This is not the first time Trump has expressed disappointment with Putin - he did so last fall as well, predicting that the Russian dictator will lose.
When asked if he would conduct a special operation in Russia to capture Putin, similar to the Venezuelan scenario, Trump said he hopes it will not be necessary.
A few days earlier, Trump stated that the Kremlin leader "is killing too many people" and reiterated Russia's heavy losses in the war in Ukraine.
Earlier, Politico reported that Putin’s stubbornness in negotiations occasionally frustrates Trump and complicates diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
