First, the White House, according to Reuters, shot down a proposal for a referendum in eastern Ukraine from Putin. The Russian president asked Trump to back a referendum in the eastern part of Ukraine, which is currently embroiled in a war between Russia-backed separatists and the Ukrainian government.
“The administration is not considering supporting a referendum in the eastern Ukraine,” said Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
He added: “To organize a so-called referendum in a part of Ukraine which is not under government control would have no legitimacy.”
Then, according to CNN’s Ryan Browne, the Defense Department sent $200 million in military aid to Ukraine. The aid will not include lethal weaponry, Browne reported, but the materials will nonetheless undoubtedly help Ukrainian forces in their battle against Russian aggression.- READ MORE
[divider][/divider]Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said President Donald Trump “understands” that the Russians interfered in U.S. elections in 2016 — and fired back at criticism that the president appeared weak at this week’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I think those allegations are absurd,” Pompeo told Fox News’ Shannon Bream during an interview Thursday night on “Fox News @ Night.”
Pompeo asserted that Trump has been “relentless” against Russia, and subtly criticized the media for overdramatizing its coverage of the Helsinki meeting.
“This administration has been relentless in its efforts to deter Russia from its bad behavior,” he said. “We inherited a situation where Russia was running all over the United States. These last few days have been, frankly, more heat than light.”
Pompeo said the Trump administration has been “strong in supporting the Ukrainians, strong in making sure that we’re protected against Russian expansion in other parts of the world. We all recognize that that threat is real and President Trump has been strong in protecting America from Russian aggression.”- READ MORE
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