Kathrine Frich
Quayle argued that Putin is exploiting Trump’s weaknesses.
Quayle argued that Putin is exploiting Trump’s weaknesses.
Dan Quayle turns on Trump over Russia stance
Dan Quayle, the 44th Vice President of the United States, and a man who voted for Donald Trump three times, has now launched a stinging rebuke of Trump’s soft stance on Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at the CNBC CEO Summit, Quayle said Trump has failed to apply any real pressure on the Russian leader.
“Zero, absolutely zero”: Quayle baffled by Trump’s tactics
“What leverage is he using on Putin? Zero. Absolutely zero,” Quayle said, blasting Trump for what he sees as appeasement.
He warned that without serious pressure, Putin has no reason to end the war in Ukraine and no desire to, either.
A Kremlin advantage
Quayle argued that Putin is exploiting Trump’s weaknesses.
With his background in the KGB, Putin “knows exactly how to deal with” Trump, Quayle said, adding that the Russian president has had “a lot of success” with him, even if battlefield victories have been elusive.
A call and no consequences
Quayle criticized a recent two-hour call between Trump and Putin, after which Trump claimed talks between Ukraine and Russia would begin “immediately.”
But no real progress has been made and according to Quayle, agreeing to talk without consequences hands Putin a win.
The Biden war or Trump’s political risk?
While Trump calls the conflict “Biden’s war,” Quayle said the political fallout will ultimately land on whoever is president.
“If he completely withdraws from Ukraine,” Quayle warned, “there will be a significant political price.”
Three missed opportunities to apply pressure
Quayle laid out what Trump could be doing:
- Freezing Russian assets held in Swiss banks
- Delivering more weapons to Ukraine
- Enforcing tough secondary sanctions on Russia
If all three were done, he said, “Putin would come to the negotiating table tomorrow.”
Trump’s inaction may fracture US-EU ties
By failing to pressure Russia, Trump risks damaging America’s political alliance with the European Union, Quayle added. “
The EU stayed silent while Trump said yes to Putin,” he said. That silence, he believes, speaks volumes.
Despite his years in diplomacy, Quayle admitted that Trump’s strategy leaves him at a loss. “I don’t understand it,” he said. “He doesn’t want to do anything substantial.”