More and more it seems that the US policy towards Putin will not significantly change

AUTHOR: Jutarnji.hr
http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/svijet/je-li-trump-napravio-preokret-prema-rusiji-sve-vise-se-cini-da-se-americka-politika-prema-putinu-nece- significantly-altered / 5597819 /

POSTED: 06/02/2017. at 13:54

During his long and ultimately successful campaign for president of the United States Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that the relations between the US and Russia will be repaired once he enters the White House.

Potentially deep connections between Trump and Russia were upsetting for a lot of American politicians, especially after allegations that Russian hackers influenced the outcome of the US elections (which is not yet proven) and the initiation of the investigation of the intelligence services against Donald Trump's two close allies, who during the campaign reportedly received sums of money from Russian banks.

Whatever the relations between Trump and Putin were, there is no doubt that the relations between the US and Russia during the second term of Barack Obama were at record low levels unseen since the Cold War. The main reason for this lay in the Russian annexation of Crimea and support of pro-Russian separatists in the war in eastern Ukraine, which is why Washington and other Western powers imposed numerous sanctions on Russia, whose economy is too dependent on exports of oil and gas, so that it very much felt. Further deterioration came after Russia's military intervention in Syria, where Putin took Obama's lukewarm "I will / will not" approach, and with his access to Air Force, but also to other aid in military technology has helped turn the tide in favor of Bashar Al-Assad.

Except in the United States, concern about Trump's entering the White House have shown many Member States of NATO Pact after the declaration of the new president (then candidate) that he will consider future interventions of the United States in the framework of the Pact, especially to help countries that do not fulfill their obligations under NATO (primarily to consume more than 2 percent of the budget for military purposes and defense).

Well, it seems that US allies do not have to worry that they will remain without their support in the event of an attack on their territory. The Trump on Sunday held talks with the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg and expressed strong support for the pact, according to Bloomberg. In addition, the two discussed how to motivate the Member States to spend more on defense, it was said from the White House. Trump to Stoltenberg also promised to come to the meeting of the leaders of NATO member in May, and discuss how to find "a peaceful solution to the conflict along the Ukrainian border."

Much sharper message to Russia has sent US Vice President Mike Pence, who said yesterday that Trump Administration is "carefully watching" Russia and is "very concerned" about the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, which began last week. Pence also said that Trump talked with Putin about war in Ukraine:

- I think the world community increasingly recognizes that in the White House there is a new way of government and conducting policy, and not only a new leader. President Trump brings a very honest and direct approach to leadership to the White House, among others in conversations with leaders around the world - frankly, I think they see it as refreshing - Pence said in an interview with ABC News. Then he "explained" Trump's attitude towards Russia:

- If there will emerge opportunity to work together, I believe that the president will look for an opportunity to start our relationship from the beginning again. But be sure of this, the decision will depend on how the Russians will behave in coming days - said Pence.

A few days ago, the new US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley was pretty direct when it comes to US-Russian relations:

- United States continue to condemn and call for immediate end to Russian occupation of Crimea. Crimea is part of Ukraine and our sanctions on Crimea will remain in force until Russia does not return control of the peninsula to Ukraine - very clearly declared Haley, almost like its predecessor Samantha Power who was ambassador to the UN during the Obama administration.

Except to people from Trump's administration on Russia in recent days with a very negative tone were talking senior Republicans also, such as Sen. Marco Rubio (Trump's rival for the nomination) and the Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who said that he "obviously does not look on Russia with the same eyes as Trump does" writes CNN.

- Putin is a former KGB candidate. He's scum. He was not elected to his office in elections that most people would consider fair. The Russians annexed the Crimea, invaded the Ukraine and fumbled in our elections. I think that there is no equal sign between the way the Russians behave and that the United States are behaving - said sharply McConnell, on whom Trump will certainly heavy depend in the coming battle to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch nominations to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Russia disagrees with US over Iran

As the United States is not satisfied with Russia's engagement around the Ukraine, Kremlin is not happy about the new sanctions introduced by Trump on Iran, writes Reuters.

Moscow has said that they "do not agree" with Trump's assessment that Iran is "the first terrorist country in the world," and added that they want to deepen their already good ties with Tehran. Thus, a spokesman for the Office of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said:

- Russia has friendly relations with Iran, we work in a wide number of areas, we value our trading ties and we hope to further develop them - said Peskov, adding:

- It's no secret that Moscow and Washington have diametrically opposite views on a number of international problems. But this should not be an obstacle to the construction of normal communication and pragmatic attitude that could use both countries - said Peskov.

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IZAKOVIC