Putin’s Strength Diminished by Failed Mutiny, says Trump

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a long-time admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed his belief that Putin has been “somewhat weakened” by a foiled mutiny.

Trump, the leading candidate in opinion polls for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, suggested that this is an opportune moment for the United States to attempt to facilitate a negotiated peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine.

“I want people to stop dying over this ridiculous war,” Trump told Reuters in a telephone interview on Thursday, June 29.

“You could say that he’s (Putin) still there, he’s still strong, but he certainly has been I would say somewhat weakened at least in the minds of a lot of people,” Trump said.

If Putin were no longer in power, however, “you don’t know what the alternative is. It could be better, but it could be far worse,” Trump said.

Regarding the war crime charges against Putin by the International Criminal Court in March, Trump suggested that Putin’s fate should be discussed when the war is over, stating that bringing up the topic now would hinder the prospects for peace and settlement.

In terms of the conflict in Ukraine, Trump left open the possibility that the Kyiv government might need to concede some territory to Russia in order to halt the war, emphasizing that all aspects would be “subject to negotiation” if he were to become president. He also acknowledged the efforts of Ukrainians in defending their land, suggesting that they have “earned a lot of credit.”

“I think they would be entitled to keep much of what they’ve earned and I think that Russia likewise would agree to that. You need the right mediator, or negotiator, and we don’t have that right now,” he said.

“I think the biggest thing that the U.S. should be doing right now is making peace – getting Russia and Ukraine together and making peace. You can do it,” Trump said. “This is the time to do it, to get the two parties together to force peace.”

Trump also called for China to be given a 48-hour deadline to vacate a Chinese spy station on the island of Cuba, warning that refusal would result in new tariffs on Chinese goods by a Trump administration.

“I’d give them 48 hours to get out. And if they didn’t get out, I’d charge them a 100% tariff on everything they sell to the United States, and they’d be gone within two days. They’d be gone within one hour,” Trump said.

When questioned about U.S. support for Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, Trump declined to elaborate, citing potential negative implications for negotiation strategies. He did, however, assert that there was no threat for four years during his presidency and suggested it would not occur if he were president again.

“I don’t talk about that. And the reason I don’t is because it would hurt  negotiating position,” he said. “All I can tell you is for four years, there was no threat. And it wouldn’t happen if I were president.”