US Senator Bob Corker: The US should continue to respond to Russia’s aggression
In response to Voice of America’s request for comment regarding US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s statement about Crimea and the Donbas, the US Senator from Tennessee, Bob Corker, stated that the United States should continue to respond to Russia’s aggression related to the invasion into eastern Ukraine and illegal annexation of Crimea.
“I have supported providing lethal weapons to Ukraine and believe we should help our allies resist efforts to change borders by force,” Bob Corker said in the written response to the question posed by Voice of America. On Sunday, Donald Trump stated in his interview to ABC that Putin will not go to war against Ukraine. However, the illegal annexation of Crimea was implemented by military forces and Russia has played a crucial destructive role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
“[Putin]’s not going into Ukraine, OK? Just so you understand. He’s not going into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down,” Trump stated. On Monday morning, the US presidential nominee began to argue that he had been misunderstood. “When I said in an interview that Putin is ‘not going into Ukraine, you can mark it down,’ I am saying if I am President. Already in Crimea!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Last week, Trump said he wouldn’t exclude the possibility of recognizing Crimea as Russian territory or lifting sanctions imposed against Russia.