CCTV News:During the campaign and after taking office, Trump repeatedly said that he would improve relations with Russia. Putin and Russia also reciprocated and made a positive response. But today, under the heavy resistance at home and abroad, the relationship between the United States and Russia is hard to break.
Recently, Flynn, assistant to the President of the United States for national security affairs, was heated up by the American media because of his resignation because of "leaking secrets" during a secret talk with the Russian ambassador. Some American media even pointed the finger at Trump himself.
Trump had to make it clear at the White House press conference on the 16th: I have nothing to do with Russia.
Reporter:Do you know that your team members had contact with Russia during the election?
US President Trump:I’ve already said it’s Flynn. Flynn is one, but he’s the one who deals with this problem. That’s his job.
Reporter:During the presidential campaign, too?
US President Trump:No, no, as far as I know, no one (has contact with Russia).
Reporter:Didn’t you know that someone on the team had contact with Russia during the campaign?
US President Trump:How many times do I have to answer this question?
Reporter:Can you answer yes or no?
US President Trump:Contact with Russia is a conspiracy. I know you stood up and asked questions. This is too important. The whole incident is a conspiracy. I have nothing to do with Russia.
The US media "blocked" and even exposed Russian military actions.
In addition to hyping "collaboration with the enemy", the American media also tried to play up the Russian threat. Recently, the US media quoted US military officials as saying that they have successively exposed the news that Russian troops are carrying out offensive military actions. This includes the Russian "spy ship" mentioned by Trump appearing on the east coast of the United States.
CBS reported that a Russian spy ship approached the east coast of the United States on the morning of 14th Eastern Time, and was only 100 kilometers away from Delaware. Although the ship was sailing in international waters, it was equipped with spy equipment and surface-to-air missiles that could intercept communication signals.
Four Russian military planes approached the US destroyer.
Just a few days ago, on the 10th of this month, when the guided missile destroyer "Porter" of the United States was sailing in the Black Sea, it was similar to last year when it was approached by Russian fighters. This time, a Russian reconnaissance plane approached and flew low, and then three Russian fighters approached and flew low. Recently, it was less than one kilometer away from the American destroyer. American officials said that such a move was unsafe and unprofessional.
Russia secretly deploys short-and medium-range cruise missiles
In addition, The New York Times recently reported that Russia is secretly deploying land-based short-range cruise missiles, which are explicitly banned by Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed by the Soviet Union and the United States in December 1987, which is called the Treaty between the Soviet Union and the United States on the Elimination of Intermediate-range and Short-range Missiles. According to the treaty, the Soviet Union and the United States will completely destroy and completely ban short-and medium-range missiles with a range of 500 to 1,000 kilometers and medium-range missiles with a range of 1,000 to 5,000 kilometers.
The report also said that the short-and medium-range cruise missiles deployed by Russia can carry nuclear warheads. The deployment time was in December last year, when it was still during the Obama administration. Now, the Trump administration must respond to this.
US officials said that Russia’s move was a flagrant violation of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and questioned Russia’s sincerity in reducing its weapons.
Russian Defense Ministry: Russian warplanes approach "nothing"
The Russian Defense Ministry responded to the report that Russian warplanes approached the US guided missile destroyer. On the 14th, Konashenkov, spokesman of the Ministry of Defense, said that the American media reports were "totally false".
Secretary Putin: Russia always abides by its international obligations.
On the 15th, Russian Presidential Press Secretary peskov also denied the news that the US media reported that "Russia secretly deployed short-range cruise missiles".
Russian Presidential Press Secretary peskov:No one has formally accused Russia of violating Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the source of the information you mentioned has not been stated. There is no doubt that Russia has always abided by its international obligations, including the treaty framework you mentioned.
Trump: Or let Putin lose confidence in me.
In response to recent reports that Russian spy ships appeared near the east coast of the United States, some American media said that this was Putin testing Trump. In response, Trump responded at the White House press conference.
Reporter:Do you think Putin is testing you?
US President Trump:I don’t think so. Putin may think that he can’t reach any agreement with me, because (media reports) make a politician who tries to reach an agreement (with other countries) politically unpopular.
In the United States, there are obstacles to the recovery of US-Russian relations, in addition to the media and the military. On the 16th, the new US Defense Minister Matisse made it clear that the United States "has no intention to cooperate with Russia at the military level".
US lawmakers from both parties demanded an investigation into the president’s relations with Russia.
Trump’s idea of improving relations with Russia has also encountered resistance from American political circles. Recently, a number of heavyweight members of the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States used the topic to ask for a thorough investigation into the alleged "communication with Russia" by Flynn, assistant to the President of the United States for national security affairs.
Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader of the House of Representatives and a Democrat, believes that Flynn may just be the scapegoat in this incident.
John McCain, a senior US senator and Republican, said on the 14th that Flynn’s case made people question the Trump administration’s Russia policy, and he asked to investigate the relationship between the Trump administration and Russia.
The trend of US-Russian relations attracts the attention of European countries.
The European allies of the United States are also very vigilant and concerned about the actions of Trump and Putin. The contradiction between Russia and Europe has lasted for many years, and the two sides do not trust each other. On the 28th of last month, Trump had an hour-long conversation with Putin, releasing the signal to restart and improve the US-Russia relations. European countries are worried that once there is a major change in US-Russian relations, it will inevitably affect European-Russian relations and change Europe’s geostrategic pattern.
Therefore, at the 53rd Munich Security Conference, which opened yesterday (17th), German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen warned the United States that Europe and the United States share common interests in their Russian policy and should trust each other and act together.
Trump: Russia should "return" Crimea
In addition to external resistance, Trump’s own attitude changes have also set obstacles for the improvement of US-Russian relations. During the campaign, Trump hinted that he was willing to accept Crimea’s entry into Russia. Recently, however, Trump went back on his word and proposed that Russia "return" Crimea to Ukraine. This attracted a "categorical rejection" from the Russian side.
On the 15th, the Russian Foreign Ministry responded that it would not "return" Crimea to Ukraine, nor would it discuss it with other countries including the US.
Russia: It is too early to talk about the trend of Russia-US relations.
In view of various variables, Russian Presidential Press Secretary peskov said in a telephone interview yesterday (17th) that Russia is not disappointed by the lack of progress in improving Russian-American relations, and it is still too early to talk about the direction of Russian-American relations.
Peskov also said that possible cooperation and differences between Russia and the United States can only be determined after the two heads of state hold substantive talks. It is not clear when the meeting will be held.