Blinken, Macron discuss countering Russian aggression towards Ukraine

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on June 25, discussed the countries' joint commitments to Transatlantic security and to the enduring NATO Alliance. This was announced by the press secretary of the US Department of State Ned Price.

"Secretary Blinken and President Macron emphasized the shared goals of establishing a stable and predictable relationship with Moscow while addressing Russia’s aggressive and irresponsible behavior, including towards Ukraine," the statement said.

Related: US, Germany working on Nord Stream 2 agreement to protect Ukraine from risks, - Blinken

In addition, among the topics raised during the dialogue were China's influence on the international order, countering terrorist threats and supporting democracy in African partner countries in the Sahel region, the humanitarian crisis and human rights violations in the Ethiopian region of Tigray, the situation in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine positively assessed the EU's decision to extend economic sanctions against Russia. In particular, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova made her comment on her on Twitter page.

"I welcome the political decision of the European Council to extend the term of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation until January 2022," Dzhaparova said.

Donald Trump: 'Putin has eaten Obama's lunch, therefore our lunch, for a long period of time'

Mar 13, 2014
Eun Kyung Kim: TODAY SHOW (NBC)

Donald Trump slammed President Obama Thursday on TODAY for failing to take a stronger line against President Vladimir Putin in dealing with Ukraine, saying he feared Obama would now make up for lost time with imprudent moves to "show his manhood."

The real estate mogul and reality-TV star, who has criticized Putin for sending military troops into Crimea, said Obama must now take fierce steps to prevent the situation from escalating further.

"We should definitely do sanctions and we have to show some strengths. I mean, Putin has eaten Obama's lunch, therefore our lunch, for a long period of time," Trump said. ..."

http://www.today.com/news/donald-trump-putin-has-eaten-obamas-lunch-ukraine-2D79372098
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Here's the interview w/ Matt Lauer on YouTube...

Donald Trump (2014): "Vladimir Putin Has Eaten Obama's Lunch":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzURUENf1ns
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Mike Pence on Putin and Russia:

(from the VP debate on Oct 5, 2016)

"When Donald Trump and I observe that, as I've said, in Syria, in Iran, in Ukraine, that the small and bullying leader of Russia has been stronger on the world stage than this administration, that's stating painful facts. That's not an endorsement of Vladimir Putin -- that's an indictment of the weak and feckless leadership of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama." ..."

What we're dealing with is the, you know, there's an old proverb that says the Russian bear never dies, it just hibernates.

And the truth of the matter is, the weak and feckless foreign policy of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has awakened an aggression in Russia that first appeared a few years ago with their move in Georgia, now their move into Crimea, now their move into the wider Middle East.

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JULY 2017...

Trump, in Warsaw Speech, Criticizes Russia's Destabilizing Role in Ukraine, Syria

The president also reaffirmed his commitment to NATO's mutual-defense pact

Jul 6, 2017

President Trump called Russia a 'destabilizing' influence in Europe and the Middle East, and urged it to "join the community of responsible nations," in his strongest remarks yet against the regime of Vladimir Putin, whom he is scheduled to meet Friday in Hamburg for the first time.

His remarks in Warsaw's Krasinski Square, which marks the 1944 Warsaw uprising against the Nazis, came after the U.S. agreed to sell Patriot missiles to Poland. The president also used the opportunity to reiterate the NATO commitment to mutual defense, a declaration he did not make during the NATO summit in May, prompting consternation among U.S. allies wary of Russia's ambitions.

"To those who would criticize our tough stance, I would point out that the United States has demonstrated, not merely with its words but with its actions, that we stand firmly behind Article 5, the mutual-defense commitment," Trump said Thursday. "Words are easy, but actions are what matters. And for its own protection, Europe, and you know this, everybody knows this, everybody has to know this, Europe must do more."

Trump has repeatedly said NATO members must spend more on defense -- a position in line with past U.S. administrations. But he has been criticized because he appeared to suggest U.S. commitment to mutual defense was predicated on its allies' defense spending. ..."

https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/07/trump-russia/532761/

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