From Fox News: President Donald Trump’s approach with Russian President Vladimir Putin pivoted drastically this month when, for the first time since returning to the White House, he not only confirmed his support for Ukraine in a NATO arms agreement but issued an ultimatum to the Kremlin chief.
The warning came in a clear message: Enter into a peace deal with Ukraine or face stiff international sanctions on its top commodity, oil sales.
While the move has been championed by some, it has been questioned by others who debate whether it will be enough to deter Putin’s war ambitions in Ukraine. One security expert is arguing the plan will work, but it might take years to be effective.
“I think it will be effective, and he’s going to stick to that strategy,” said Fred Fleitz, former deputy assistant to Trump and chief of staff of the National Security Council during his first term. “He’s going to continue to push Putin to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith, not come to the bargaining table, make promises that the Russians don’t plan on keeping.”
“That’s something Trump’s not going to tolerate,” Fleitz added. “We will see this is just the first six months of the Trump presidency. This may take a couple of years to solve.”
Fleitz said Trump has historically changed his tactics based on new observances, noting his pivot in Iran.
“He looked at the intelligence and realized it was getting too close, and he decided to adjust his policy, which was first diplomacy,” Fleitz said.
“But Trump also specified something very important. He said to his supporters, ‘I came up with a concept of the America-first approach to U.S. national security, and I decide what’s in it,” Fleitz added. “He has ownership of this approach, and he will adjust if necessary.”
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