By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Herbert Raymond McMaster, former U.S. National Security Advisor under President Trump, has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of manipulating Trump, particularly concerning the Ukraine war.
During an interview on CBS Mornings, McMaster criticized Trump’s claim that Ukraine started the conflict, labeling it false. He said, “Those were all the Kremlin’s talking points that you heard him roll out.”
McMaster suggested that Putin exploited Trump’s personality, using flattery to manipulate him. He noted, “Putin plays Trump with the prospects of a big deal…you know that he could be the peacemaker. He gives him his warped version of history.”
McMaster further explained that this tactic was part of a broader strategy to create the false impression that Trump could facilitate peace, calling it an “appeasement-based peace.”
Despite Putin’s influence, McMaster believes NATO could manage the situation independently of the U.S., stating that NATO’s defense budgets are sufficient to support Ukraine’s needs.
