Portnikov: Putin wants to show Europe that Trump won’t defend it

Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin seeks to show Europe that U.S. President Donald Trump will not defend it, thereby undermining the global order.

To achieve this, the Kremlin is escalating its actions against the West — from attacks on Ukraine and violations of European airspace to direct military threats.

This was stated on Sept. 22 by prominent Ukrainian journalist, political analyst, and commentator Vitaliy Portnikov commented on Putin’s threats to respond to the West with “military-technical measures” against “any threats.”

He said the dictator’s “threats…to use ‘military-technical means’ — in other words, war — against the West are a logical continuation of the controlled escalation policy that has he adopted after his meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska,” Portnikov said.

During that meeting, Putin reportedly saw Trump as “ineffectual” and decided he could now cross “red lines” with greater confidence.

“Almost immediately after the talks, there were massive attacks on Ukraine, which Trump chose to largely ignore, unlike his previous reactions to Putin’s strikes,” Portnikov said.

This was followed by Russian drones entering Polish airspace and then Russian fighter jets violating Estonian airspace.

“Trump expressed his ‘displeasure,’ but in practice, again did not take action,” Portnikov said.

Afterward, Putin felt emboldened to make direct threats of war against the West, while leaving Trump the opportunity to interpret his statements as a willingness to continue nuclear arms negotiations.

“If these statements do not receive an adequate response, the escalation will continue — up to strikes by armed drones and missiles, and eventually the presence of Russian military personnel on European soil,” Portnikov said.