Trump tells Ukrainian politician he won't lift Russia sanctions

[steve2470]

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/trump-ukraine-russia-sanctions-234631

During an unusual private meeting on the sidelines of Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast, President Donald Trump promised a Ukrainian opposition leader that the United States won’t lift sanctions on Russia until it pulls out of Ukraine, according to three people briefed on the meeting.

Within hours of meeting with both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at the prayer breakfast, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko relayed the contents of the meeting to separate audiences at the Heritage Foundation and the Hudson Institute, according to people who attended the off-the-record events at the conservative think tanks.

The sources said that Tymoshenko, a member of parliament who is positioning herself for a presidential campaign against the beleaguered incumbent president Petro Poroshenko, told the think tanks that Trump assured her he would “not abandon” Ukraine, which claims that Russian troops are responsible for increased fighting in the region near the countries’ shared border. The international community largely supports this view, but Moscow denies it and blames the fighting on pro-Russian separatists.

While Trump had suggested during his campaign that he might be willing to ease sanctions against Russia related to its aggression against Ukraine, Tymoshenko said Trump assured her he would do no such thing — unless Russia withdrew from Ukraine, according to the people who attended the briefings.

more at link

[dalton99a]

1. Full quote: "Trust me, I won't lift Russia sanctions"

[Lucky Luciano]

5. You forgot the "believe me."

[ProudLib72]

2. It doesn't matter what he says

only what he does. I think we will see the sanctions come off within a week.

[gohuskies]

3. Drumpf is incapable of telling anyone the truth

Tymoshenko should not trust anything this prevaricating schmuck told her.

[AlexSFCA]

4. it's a trap

Did trump say if considers Crimea as part of Russia or part of Ukraine? Lifting sanctions on Russia is one of the home highest priorities for trump so watch carefully how he spins it.

[highplainsdem]

6. Theory on this from John Schindler, who calls Tymoshenko Trump's kryptonite:

Link to tweet

Just do a search for her name on Google, including images.

[Lint Head]

7. This is framing on steroids. Here's the real deal.

Trump was told by Putin that if Trump did not lift the sanctions that the shelling would continue and Russia will not pull out. So Trump just flipped it to make himself look good. Either way it's quid pro quo.