After the noise caused by reports of telephone conversation between Donald Trump and his Volodimir Zelenski, The US president responded publicly and clearly: Ukraine should not attack the Russian capital. This position is part of the general narrative that Trump attempts to build for himself: the one who wants peace.
The controversial phrase for Moscow and the White House denial
Rumors began when the media revealed that Trump asked Zelenski if he could hurt Moscow, in order to – according to reports – intensifying the pressure on Vladimir Putin. The answer immediately came from the US president himself:
“Ukraine should not target Moscow.”
Sources near the White House attempted to entertain the impression, making it clear that there was no encouragement of the president’s violence. As the White House spokesman, Carolin LevittTrump’s phrase “was just a question” and did not mean that he was in favor of some aggressive action.
In his position, the US president stressed that no one was taking the place, rejecting the interpretations that want him to close his eye either in Kiev or Moscow.
“I don’t take the place of any side. I want the bloodshed to stop. We will see what happens to President Putin, “he said.
His statement may be considered part of his general strategy to be presented as a peacemaker, in view of the race for the US elections. In his public discourse, Trump insists that If he fully assums power, he may end the war in 24 hourscausing reactions and doubts from the international community.
Hard attack on the Financial Times
White House spokesman, Caroline LevittIn a statement to Newsweek, she argued that the words of the former president were deliberately fired by the Financial Times. “The newspaper is infamous that it is completely isolating phrases from the context, just to click – because it collapses,” he said.