Vladimir Putin’s interview with Le Figaro
I have already spoken to three US Presidents. They come and go, but politics stay the same at all times. Do you know why? Because of the powerful bureaucracy. When a person is elected, they may have some ideas. Then people with briefcases arrive, well dressed, wearing dark suits, just like mine, except for the red tie, since they wear black or dark blue ones. These people start explaining how things are done. And instantly, everything changes. This is what happens with every administration.
Changing things is not easy, and I say this without any irony. It is not that someone does not want to, but because it is a hard thing to do. Take Obama, a forward-thinking man, a liberal, a democrat. Did he not pledge to shut down Guantanamo before his election? But did he do it? No, he did not. And may I ask why not? Did he not want to do it? He wanted to, I am sure he did, but it did not work out. He sincerely wanted to do it, but did not succeed, since it turned out to be very complicated.
Toa sto go zborev, koga site drugi se nadevaa vo Trump:
Trump’s Image vs. His Record
Donald Trump was often
perceived as sympathetic to Russia:
- He repeatedly questioned the value of NATO.
- He expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin’s leadership style.
- His 2016 campaign was clouded by allegations of Russian interference and contacts between Trump associates and Russian figures.
However,
his administration’s actual policy record toward Russia was much tougher than his rhetoric suggested:
- Sanctions: Trump signed multiple rounds of sanctions against Russia — some mandated by Congress (like the 2017 CAATSA law), others imposed by the Treasury and State Departments.
- Military aid to Ukraine: His administration approved lethal aid to Ukraine (something the Obama administration had avoided).
- NATO defense spending: His pressure on allies arguably strengthened NATO’s deterrence posture against Russia.
- Diplomatic expulsions: The U.S. expelled dozens of Russian diplomats over the Skripal poisoning in the U.K. in 2018.
So, while Trump
spoke warmly of Putin, his administration often
acted harshly toward Russia — sometimes against his own apparent preferences.