Support The Moscow Times!

Trump Ready to 'Move Forward' With Russia, Says Foreign Policy Campaign Aide

Evan Vucci / AP

Donald Trump understands the misgiving some members of the Congress might have about the current state of U.S.-Russia relations, but is ready for both countries to “move forward”, a Trump foreign policy advisor during the election campaign told RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned news agency.

Walid Phares, a scholar of Lebanese Christian descent who Trump picked as his Middle East policy advisor during the presidential campaign, explained to RIA that “some Congress members are worried” about the “multitude of problems inherited from the past but still troubling us today.” He added, however, that “[Trump] is convinced that we are now in the next stage and must go on.”

Despite Donald Trump’s repeated verbal advances towards Russia — made both during his campaign and while in office — this might represent the first time someone from his team spoke directly to Russian media. While still on the campaign trail, Trump himself was interviewed by Larry King for his show Politicking which King syndicates to RT (formerly Russia Today, a government-funded foreign-language news service). Trump later backtracked from the interview, saying through a spokesperson he was only talking to King as a favor to a friend and didn’t expect the interview to be published by RT — a claim with King later disputed.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more