The Republican candidate’s view runs counter to the Obama administration, which imposed economic sanctions against Russian Federation for annexing the territory in Ukraine two years ago.
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In the ABC interview Trump rowed back on the claim, declaring “I don’t think I’ve ever met him”.
As for a potential Trump administration’s policy, the GOP nominee, sounding very sympathetic to Vladimir Putin’s talking points, added, “Y$3 ou know, the people of Crimea, from what I’ve heard, would rather be with Russian Federation than where they were”. The U.S. hasn’t recognized the legitimacy of Russian referendums in Crimea, saying they were not conducted fairly.
Donald Trump speaks at the CPAC Conference in 2014 where he praised Putin’s skills during the invasion of Crimea.
Trump’s stance contradicts USA policy, which continues to recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine.
Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was an adviser for Ukraine’s then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who was backed by the Russian government.
USA officials speaking unattributably have said Moscow was responsible, and President Obama, asked on Tuesday whether the Russians were trying to influence the US election, replied, “anything’s possible”. More broadly, she said Trump’s comments about Ukraine and Crimea undermines the perception that the United States acts as a guarantor of rights and freedoms around the world. He added “You can mark it down”. You can put it down. Do you want to have World War III to get it back? In an interview with ABC on Sunday, Trump confirmed that his people were behind the change.
Stephanopoulos responded that Putin already had forces in Ukraine, to which Trump replied that Putin was there “in a certain way”. He also said that, if elected president, he would “take a look at” recognizing the Black Sea peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Russian territory. “I mean, you know, you can send some people in”. Ok, all right. And I said he’s a strong guy.
‘This is scary stuff, ‘ Clinton campaign spokesman Jake Sullivan said in a statement. This comes on the heels of his tacit invitation to the Russians to invade our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies in Eastern Europe.
Hillary Clinton on Sunday (Monday in Manila) sharply criticized Donald Trump over his “absolute allegiance” to Russian policy aims, saying it raised both “national security issues” and new doubts about his temperament.
“I said very simply: they’re not gonna do it on my watch, essentially”, Trump said of his interview.
The statements were significant because Mr Trump has seemingly embraced Mr Putin, repeatedly called for better ties with Russian Federation and shown an unwillingness to condemn Mr Putin for his aggressive actions against Russia’s neighbours and his crackdowns on freedoms at home.
Those comments echo remarks Trump made in a May 2014 speech to the National Press Club. “I think our first meeting took place in 1986 and the second, a few years ago”, Churkin told reporters Monday. I said something good about him when (broadcaster) Larry King was on.
He added, “wouldn’t it be nice if we teamed up with Russian Federation and others, including surrounding states and maybe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and we knocked the hell out of ISIS (IS) and got rid of these people?”
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No one should begrudge Trump for wanting to improve the U.S. -Russia relationship.
