Former national security adviser John Bolton on Wednesday rejected President Trump’s assertion that he has a “favorite” in the current peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine.
“Of course, he has a favorite, and his favorite is not Russia; his favorite is [Russian President] Putin,” Bolton stated late Wednesday during his appearance on CNN’s “The Source.”
Bolton, who often criticizes Trump, argued that the president made “major” concessions to Russia, citing the comment where the president said Ukraine is “impossible” to fully reclaim their territories and that it is not feasible for Eastern European nations to join the NATO Military Alliance.
Nonetheless, Trump did not clarify whether he wanted Ukraine to acknowledge Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.
“I just want to observe the conclusion of the war. I don’t care,” Trump expressed to White House reporters.
“If both parties are content and sign an agreement, I don’t have a favorite,” he continued. “I don’t wish to have a favorite. I want to broker a deal.”
Earlier that day, the president mentioned that the administration had not pressured Ukraine to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.
“No one is asking [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky to consider Crimea as Russian territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they defend it when it was given to Russia without a shot being fired?” Trump noted in a post on Truth Social.
In a discussion with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Bolton criticized the regime’s stance on Russia, calling the pursuit of peace a “significant error” for the United States.
After Russia unleashed a series of airstrikes and drone assaults on Kiev, the president expressed his discontent with Putin, following the deaths of nine individuals and over 70 injuries. This offensive occurred shortly after the president publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I am not pleased with Russia’s attack on Kiev,” Trump stated Thursday morning on Truth Social. “Unnecessary, very poor timing. Vladimir, halt! 5,000 soldiers are dying weekly. Let’s finalize a peace agreement!”
Bolton remarked that Trump’s pressure on Ukraine “is basically a core aspect of what Russia desires, which has swayed the negotiations.”
The Trump administration is engaging with Russian and Ukrainian representatives to mediate the contract, yet both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President Vance have indicated that the US may withdraw from the ceasefire discussions if an agreement is not reached soon.
