‘Fight back’: Trump airs support for Ukraine going on offensive against Russia
By David Crowe
London: US President Donald Trump has slammed American policies that prevented Ukraine from launching full-scale attacks on Russia in order to win the war, posting a picture of himself pointing at the chest of Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to reinforce his point.
Trump suggested Ukraine should have been able to fight with few restrictions after more than three years of war, in a startling post during a period of sensitive negotiations over a peace deal.
US President Donald Trump shared a picture of himself pointing at the chest of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.Credit: @realDonaldTrump/TruthSocial
He also drew a direct parallel with assertive American policy against Russia during the Cold War by adding a photograph of then US vice-president Richard Nixon pointing his finger at the chest of then Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1959.
Russia bombarded Ukrainian cities with more missile and drone attacks in the early hours of Thursday, Ukrainian time, despite calls from European leaders for a ceasefire so that the US, Ukraine and Russia could negotiate a settlement to the war.
The latest bombings included a strike against an American electronics plant in Ukraine, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to cite this as proof of a deliberate Russian attack on US interests.
Ukraine estimates that Russia has fired nearly 1000 long-range drones and missiles at Ukraine since talks on Monday when Zelensky and European leaders spoke with Trump for hours at the White House.
Then US vice president Richard Nixon pointing his finger at the chest of Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1959.Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Former US president Joe Biden placed restrictions on the way Ukraine could use some of the arms supplied since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, such as preventing long-range artillery being fired at targets on Russian soil.
Trump complained about this on social media on Thursday in Washington.
“It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country,” he wrote.
“It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defence, but is not allowed to play offence. There is no chance of winning! It is like that with Ukraine and Russia.”
US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House this week.Credit: AP
Trump said Biden would not let Ukraine “fight back” and suggested the strategy had failed. “How did that work out?” he wrote.
The post signalled a different approach to the president’s belligerent tone with Zelensky during their clash at the White House in February, when Trump said: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.”
Leaders including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are backing plans to deliver more arms to Ukraine on the understanding that Trump will approve the weapon sales – as long as Europe pays for them.
While Trump spoke on Monday about the idea of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky to settle the war, to be followed by a trilateral meeting he would join, there has been no sign of progress toward this goal.
Zelensky cited the latest Russian attacks as proof that the US and Europe should harden their positions against Russia.
“In Mukachevo, the Russians practically burned down an American company producing electronics – home appliances, nothing military,” he said on social media.
“The Russians knew exactly where they lobbed the missiles. We believe this was a deliberate attack against American property and investments in Ukraine.”
Zelensky said the signals now coming from Russia were “outrageous” and Moscow was “trying to wriggle out of holding a meeting”.
“They don’t want to end this war. They continue their massive attacks on Ukraine and their ferocious assaults along the frontline,” he said.
“We expect our partners to respond in a principled manner. This war must be brought to an end. Pressure must be exerted on Russia to end the war. Putin understands nothing but force and pressure.”
Workers inspect Flamingo cruise missiles at a secret factory in Ukraine this month.Credit: AP
With AP
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