Trump claims Putin wouldn't have invaded under him. Biden promises to stand firm.
🧵As someone who spent a decade in Putin's prisons, let me give you the reality check of their claims
🧵As someone who spent a decade in Putin's prisons, let me give you the reality check of their claims
"Russia would've never attacked if I were president." - Trump
This is hypothetical and I don't see much evidence to support it, the state propaganda and Putin himself have been more sympathetic to Trump administration than the Biden administration.
This is hypothetical and I don't see much evidence to support it, the state propaganda and Putin himself have been more sympathetic to Trump administration than the Biden administration.
What we know for sure, however, is that if the Ukraine was giving the aid at the level it is now, the war would be over within months. He didn't meet appropriate level of unity and decisiveness in the West and started playing the long game.
And he decided to drag the war on hoping that the West would get tired of supporting Ukraine - which, accidentally, it did and there was a huge pause in munition delivery which helped him regroup and take more of an offensive position.
"We're no longer respected." - Trump
And what's the response? If it's going home... It only diminishes the U.S. influence and creates power vacuums to be filled by authoritarian players. Respect is not earned by abandoning allies, it's earned through consistent principles.
And what's the response? If it's going home... It only diminishes the U.S. influence and creates power vacuums to be filled by authoritarian players. Respect is not earned by abandoning allies, it's earned through consistent principles.
"Every time that Zelenskyy comes to this country, he walks away with $60 billion dollars, he's the greatest salesman ever" - Trump
Putin bets $120bn/year (5.4% of Russia's GDP) on the war effort. US counters with $106bn total aid to Ukraine - a fraction of the $850bn of the U.S. defense budget. Freedom isn't free, failure to support Ukraine now will cost far more later.
Putin bets $120bn/year (5.4% of Russia's GDP) on the war effort. US counters with $106bn total aid to Ukraine - a fraction of the $850bn of the U.S. defense budget. Freedom isn't free, failure to support Ukraine now will cost far more later.
"We're needed to protect the world because our own safety is at stake." - Biden
The most effective way to deter an aggressive, authoritarian leader like Putin is to communicate in a language he understands - the language of strength and consequences.
The most effective way to deter an aggressive, authoritarian leader like Putin is to communicate in a language he understands - the language of strength and consequences.
"Do you think he'll stop when he – if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland?" - Biden
It's very much in Putin's record to start wars when his popularity goes down. It's his signature method of consolidating support. For that reason, he must be defeated in Ukraine, or he will not stop there. Western powers have armed Ukraine just enough for it not to lose but not enough for it to win decisively. This needs to change.
It's very much in Putin's record to start wars when his popularity goes down. It's his signature method of consolidating support. For that reason, he must be defeated in Ukraine, or he will not stop there. Western powers have armed Ukraine just enough for it not to lose but not enough for it to win decisively. This needs to change.
"I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. I'll have that war settled." - Trump
The war will continue until the collapse of Putin's regime. The West must help Ukraine achieve a ceasefire on its own terms. Preserving Ukrainian independent statehood is a strategic win for Europe. The defeat of Putin's regime is a victory for Russians as well.
The war will continue until the collapse of Putin's regime. The West must help Ukraine achieve a ceasefire on its own terms. Preserving Ukrainian independent statehood is a strategic win for Europe. The defeat of Putin's regime is a victory for Russians as well.
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