Condoleezza Rice Says Trump Pivot On Putin Could Be ‘turning Point’ In Ukraine War

In uncommon nationalist remarks, erstwhile Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that she believes “this past week was a turning point” successful nan U.S. and European stance toward Ukraine and Russia, and perchance successful nan warfare successful Ukraine, “because nan president is angry pinch Putin because he has, successful effect, made nan president look bad.”

Speaking connected a sheet moderated by NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell astatine nan yearly Aspen Security Forum, Rice addressed nan ultimatum that President Donald Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin connected Monday, to judge a bid woody pinch Ukraine wrong 50 days aliases look caller secondary sanctions, which would penalize entities that do business pinch Russia.

“I deliberation nan champion news that we could perchance springiness to nan Ukrainian group is that nan United States and Europe person yet aligned astir nan thought that Vladimir Putin will not beryllium stopped pinch words. He will only beryllium stopped if he believes that he tin spell nary further, he tin triumph nary further,” Rice said.

The committedness of further weapons for Ukraine and nan ultimatum for Russia haven’t slowed Putin’s aggression, however. Late Wednesday night, Russia launched hundreds much drones and missiles into Ukraine, sidesplitting 2 people, injuring dozens much and knocking retired powerfulness for 80,000 families.

While acknowledging that secondary sanctions tin beryllium difficult to enforce, Rice pointed to ways they could still beryllium achy for Russia. “If you’re China,” she said, “with an system that’s not successful awesome shape,” aliases “India, which really doesn’t want to beryllium connected nan incorrect broadside of this, possibly you commencement reasoning astir whether that discounted Russian lipid is really worthy it.”

Given Rice’s acquisition arsenic caput of authorities and earlier that arsenic nationalist information adviser, some successful nan George W. Bush administration, Mitchell besides asked her astir Marco Rubio presently holding some titles, making him nan only personification different than Henry Kissinger to person held some roles astatine once.

“You cognize what?” she said, “I don’t mind it.” Rice explained that proximity is everything: “To person Marco Rubio successful nan White House adjacent to nan Oval Office, which is wherever nan nationalist information advisor is, arsenic opposed to down successful Foggy Bottom, wherever nan caput of authorities is, I don’t deliberation it’s a bad point correct now.”

Rice besides criticized nan Biden management for, successful her view, having taken its clip to get desperately needed weapons to Ukraine from nan outset. “If you had fixed them everything astatine nan opening of nan war,” she said, erstwhile “the Russians were connected their backmost foot, [Ukraine] could’ve won this warfare outright.”