Trump's stern warning: Russia 'playing with fire'
The U.S. Department of State spokeswoman, Tammy Bruce, warned Russia against ignoring Donald Trump's warnings. She emphasized that "the U.S. President has many means at his disposal."
What do you need to know?
- Trump's warning: Tammy Bruce stressed that Russia should take Donald Trump's warnings seriously, as he stated that Putin is "playing with fire."
- Diplomatic approach: Despite the warnings, Washington is still pursuing direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, believing the conflict cannot end by military means.
- Kremlin's reaction: The Kremlin reacted to Trump's criticism by labeling it as an effect of "emotional overload."
The spokeswoman stated that she would not comment on the president's emotions, but noted that one reason he was elected with a strong mandate last year is because people can relate to him. She added that he is deeply committed to the work he is doing
She added that if the Russians were truly concerned about the way events are unfolding, they would focus less on the process itself and more on what actions they could take—within their own power—to end the ongoing slaughter and devastation.
Quoting Trump's posts that 'Putin has gone crazy' and that 'if it weren't for him, bad things could happen to Russia', Bruce stated that "Russia should take this seriously."
Will Trump strike Russia? "He lets his anger be felt"
She pointed out that the President has a variety of tools available to make the U.S. position known and to exert pressure aimed at ending the violence. She added that Trump is making his anger toward Russia clearly felt.
When asked about additional support for Ukraine, the State Department spokeswoman said that the war in Ukraine cannot end with military means. She emphasized that the Trump administration still advocates direct talks between Russia and Ukraine.
