DONALD Trump holds all the cards and could bring Russia down to its knees if he wants, Vladimir Putin’s number one enemy told The Sun.
American-born British financier Bill Browder said Vladimir Putin’s actions show his contempt for Trump, but he could well face the wrath of the US president.
GettyDonald Trump holds all the cards and could bring Russia to its knees, an expert has warned[/caption]
GettyPutin refused to accept Trump;s ceasefire deal[/caption]
ReutersUkrainian Armed Forces fire a 120-mm mortar towards Russian troops at a frontline, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine[/caption]
Russian tyrant Putin — who kept Trump waiting before taking yesterday’s call — agreed only to a 30-day halt to attacks on power plants and to begin negotiations on a sea truce.
He reportedly rejected the US-proposed ceasefire deal that would have completely stopped the blodsheed for thre next 30 days – and provided a way to reach a permanent peace deal.
But just hours after giving his word to Trump about striking Ukrainian enegy infrastructure, Putin launched devastating airstikes on the energy infrastructure of Slovyansk in the Donetsk region, where 100,000 citizens reside.
Two Ukrainian hospitals were also hit in Ukraine’s border region Sumy, causing an evacuation of the sick.
And just one hour after the historic Putin-Trump call, blasts rocked the capital city Kyiv and a man, 60, was wounded in both legs in Bucha, with private houses also hit.
Mr Browder said slammed the mad Russian dictator for already breaking the agreement, saying he had insulted President Trump.
He added: “I think Putin is thumbing his nose at Trump and disrespecting him in very material ways.
“While the phone call was taking place, there were attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets.
“And while Putin made a promise for a ceasefire against energy infrastructure, he broke it just hours later,” Mr Browder added suggesting it showed Putin’s comtempt for Trump.
The US President remained bullish after the two leaders’ lengthy phone call, saying he can “get the job done”.
But Mr Bow said that if Trump wants, he could hurt Putin badly by slapping crippling sanctions and supplying more weapons to Ukraine to strike deep inside the Russian territory.
He even suggested US could deploy its military and end this war “very quickly”.
The expert added: “If Trump decided to, he could bring the Russian economy to its knees. He has got all the cards.
“America is a major supplier of weapons to Ukraine. Trump could triple down, give Ukrainians much more weaponry, allow Ukrainians to use that weaponry to strike targets deep into Russia.
“Trump could use economic measures to cut off the flow of oil or the flow of dollars from oil out of Russia. He could snaction countries purchasing oil from Russia.
“If they stopped buying the oil, Russia wouldn’t get the hundreds of billions of dollars and they wouldn’t be able to afford to carry on with the war.
“The US military is the most powerful military in the world.The American economy is the biggest economy in the world.
“If Trump decided that he wanted to end this war and he was ready to go after Putin, he could end this war very quickly.”
GettyOfficials work at the site of destruction and fire after the Russian attack in Sumy, Ukraine on Wednesday[/caption]
APFirefighters work on a site of a Russian attack in Krasnopillia, Sumy region on Wednesday[/caption]
ReutersA man clears rubble near damaged private houses at a site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine[/caption]
Trump issued the Armageddon message on Fox News on Tuesday, shortly after he and Putin spoke on the phone for “almost two hours”.
Trump issued the Armageddon message on Fox News on Tuesday, shortly after he and Putin spoke on the phone for “almost two hours”.
During his interview with Laura Ingraham, Trump chillingly admitted that “Russia has the advantage,” adding “we want to get [the war] over with”.
Trump claimed his call with Putin went “great” after they reached the agreement, despite the Russian leader refusing to accept a full 30-day ceasefire.
The President told Ingraham: “Right now, you have a lot of guns pointing at each other and a ceasefire without going a little bit further would have been tough.”
But he revealed that his urgent push for a ceasefire was part of a much larger plan to prevent US troops from entering the bloody war and, in turn, minimize the chance of nuclear Armageddon.
Trump warned: “Look, we’re doing this – there are no Americans involved.
“There could be if you end up in World War III over this, which is so ridiculous.
“But, you know, strange things happen.”
Putin’s deal with Trump leaves Russian free to continue launching attacks from air and sea on its neighbour while grabbing more Ukrainian land by pummeling the front line.
What did Trump & Putin agree?
By Juliana Cruz Lima, Senior Foreign News Reporter
Ceasefire & Ukraine
Putin thanked Trump for his efforts to end hostilities.
Russia agreed to halt energy infrastructure attacks for 30 days.
Moscow wants foreign military aid to Ukraine to stop as a key condition for peace.
Putin questioned Kyiv’s ability to negotiate, citing past violations.
He accused Ukrainian militants of terrorist crimes in Russia’s Kursk region.
Prisoners & humanitarian issues
A 175-for-175 prisoner exchange will take place on March 19.
23 wounded Ukrainian soldiers will be released as a gesture of goodwill.
Putin guaranteed safe treatment for Ukrainian troops if they surrender.
Black Sea & global security
Russia agreed to talks on Black Sea navigation safety.
Putin and Trump discussed stabilizing crisis regions, nuclear non-proliferation, and global security.
Russia-US relations
The leaders expressed mutual interest in improving ties.
Talks covered economic and energy cooperation.
Trump backed Putin’s idea for Russia-US hockey games between NHL and KHL players.
The two leaders will stay in contact as their expert groups begin discussions.
Last night Zelensky — who previously announced that Ukraine was willing to agree to a 30-day truce on all fronts — said Russia was not ready for an end to hostilities.
He said Putin could not be trusted and added: “Europe must be at the negotiating table, and everything that concerns European security must be decided together with Europe.”
Zelensky also later supported the limited ceasefire on energy infrastructure.
But after the air attacks launched early on Wednesday, Zelensky urged the rest of the world to stop any attempts by Moscow to “drag out the war”.
He said on Telegram: “Today, Putin de facto rejected the proposal for a complete ceasefire.
“It would be right for the world to reject in response any attempts by Putin to drag out the war.”
Trump and Putin talked for around two-and-a-half hours — and pledged to resume closer ties.
However, analysts said that Putin appeared to have won all the concessions he wanted from Trump, who prides himself on being a tough negotiator.
They warn the Russian strongman — who has a long list of demands for an end to the war — has bought his forces vital time to retake a pocket of territory in Kursk, western Russia, where Ukrainian troops are already in retreat.
ReutersUkrainian Armed Forces fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system toward Russian troops[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
