The recent statements by Trump and his advisors, blaming the West for "provoking" the war, have drawn criticism from international leaders and experts, reports Politeka.net.
As explained by Axios, this perspective is crucial for understanding why the U.S. president has likely overturned 80 years of American foreign policy by criticizing NATO, opposing the alliance's expansion, and excluding European partners from peace negotiations.
Trump and his team believe that Western nations did not pay enough attention to Russia before the Kremlin's aggression began. They highlight two key dates that they think heightened tensions: the first is April 3, 2008, when NATO announced that Ukraine could become part of the alliance, which alarmed Moscow, according to Politeka.
The second date is February 22, 2014, when President Yanukovych fled to Russia after protests in Ukraine, and just a few days later, the Kremlin annexed Crimea.
Steve Vitkoff, Trump's special representative for negotiations with Russia, noted that the war was "provoked" by Russia itself. He stated that discussions about Ukraine joining NATO posed a threat to Russia. However, renowned anti-Putin activist Garry Kasparov criticized this assertion, stating that Russia invaded Ukraine at Putin's choice, without any real threat from NATO or Ukraine.
Diplomatic experts agree that the conflict was not "provoked" by Ukraine, but they acknowledge that the issue of NATO expansion indeed became a red line for the Kremlin.
"It was a humiliation for Putin. It was a red line for Putin and for Russians... It was on their border and was seen as a direct threat to Russia's security," noted expert Gerard Toal.
Source: axios.