The Kremlin has criticized a statement by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump about the willingness of the U.S. to defend the Baltic states in the event of a Russian attack, the TASS news agency reported Thursday.
Asked whether he would defend the Baltic states from their Russian neighbor, the U.S. Republican presidential hopeful told The New York Times that he would aid them only if those states “have fulfilled their obligations to us." NATO's collective defense policy stipulates that an attack on one ally is considered an attack on all allies.
Peskov said that it’s “not the best formulation” to “unnecessarily talk about a hypothetical Russian attack on someone.” He also noted that Russia has “obligations to European global strategic security” that the country is “doing an excellent job handling.”
While The New York Times initially posed the question, in releasing Peskov's statement the TASS news agency seem to have attributed the words to Trump himself. An earlier article by TASS, however, said that Trump was answering a question posed by reporters.
Trump was confirmed as the official Republican candidate for U.S. president on Tuesday during the party’s national convention in Ohio.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
