Donald Trump defends congratulating Putin on election after it emerges he ignored aides’ demand not to; Jean-Claude Juncker defends own letter
US President Donald Trump has defended his move to congratulate Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, after it emerged he ignored explicit instructions not to.
In a series of late-night tweets, Trump insisted he was right to have offered his congratulations, concluding with the sign off “Peace through Strength”.
He was responding to reports that claim he had gone against a specific warning from his team not to congratulate the controversial leader, amid claims that the election had not been run fairly and against a backdrop of growing tensions between Russia and the UK.
According to the Washington Post, Trump’s national security advisers given him written briefing saying “DO NOT CONGRATULATE”. It was not clear if Trump, who prefers to hear briefings, read the notes, sources said.
Last night Trump said: “I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also). The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing…….
“They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race. Bush tried to get along, but didn’t have the “smarts.” Obama and Clinton tried, but didn’t have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”
Last week the US unveiled a series of new sanctions following a number of cyber attacks and attempted interference in the US 2016 elections. At that time, Trump referenced the Salisbury attacks as another reason for the move.
Update: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has also defended his letter congratulating Putin, which prompted widespread condemnation including from his own colleagues.
Speaking from Brussels, where leaders are convening for the first of a two-day European Council summit, Juncker said he had taken the same approach as German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He told the BBC: “I wrote the same letter as Mrs Merkel – ask Mrs Merkel if it was the right thing to do.”
Merkel’s letter had said Russia must “address bilateral and international challenges constructively and find sustainable solutions.”
Juncker’s put it in slightly different terms, saying: “Positive relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation are crucial to the security of our continent.”