John Bolton is one of the most famous American figures who served as National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump in 2018-2019. Previously, he worked in various administrations, including serving as US Ambassador to the United Nations in 2005-2006. Bolton is known for his tough stance on countries such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
After his dismissal due to disagreements with Trump on foreign policy issues, Bolton has repeatedly criticized the former US president, particularly in the context of his views on international conflicts.
What does he say about Ukraine and the new US president?
In an interview with The Ukrainian Review, John Bolton commented on the situation in Ukraine after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. In his opinion, Trump’s future policy on the war in Ukraine raises serious concerns, as he wants to end the war as soon as possible without paying enough attention to the conditions under which this will happen.
Trump has no strategic idea of how he wants the war to end. For him, a deal is a deal. It is not part of a policy or a grand strategy. It’s just another transaction. It’s like buying a piece of real estate in Manhattan and building a house on it. You build one and then move on to the next one, – Bolton says.
He emphasizes that this approach could lead to unfavorable agreements for Ukraine, because Putin is an experienced negotiator who knows how to manipulate people.
Putin has a very clear idea of what he wants to get for Russia. Trump has no such certainty, except that he wants the war to end. One of his advisors who is now the envoy for resolving the war, Keith Kellogg, and others have written, in particular, that the strategy they are using is to threaten Russia with new sanctions if it doesn’t agree to a deal and to threaten Ukraine with cutting off aid if they don’t agree to a deal. And I worry that with this approach, it could get very difficult for Ukraine quite quickly, – adds John Bolton.
According to Bolton, one of the best ways to influence Trump’s decision on Ukraine is for him to visit the country personally. He believes that what he sees with his own eyes can change the president’s attitude to the war and make him realize the reality of the situation more deeply.
The mission of the Ukrainian embassy here should be to bring members of Congress to Ukraine and send an invitation to both Trump and Vance to come to Ukraine and see everything with their own eyes. I think it is important. I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I think it’s at least important that Secretary Rubio gets there as soon as possible, – Bolton said.
He emphasizes that only a tough position of Ukraine and its allies can guarantee a just peace, not concessions to the aggressor.
Any war can be ended very quickly by agreeing to what your opponent wants. And that would be a huge mistake for Ukraine, even if it is under enormous pressure. Vladimir Putin and many Russians have made it clear that they want the return of the Russian Empire, which means they want to convert Ukraine. Thus, the independent Ukraine that Boris Yeltsin agreed to in Bialowieza Forest is something that Putin and many others want to undo, and if he thinks he can get it, he is willing to use force again. If Ukraine does not want this as a possible future scenario, then it should not agree to terms that leave it vulnerable. This means that it will take a long time to reach an agreement with Russia, while the Russians want the exact opposite, – Bolton concluded.
Who is John Bolton?
John Bolton is an American Republican politician and diplomat. In addition to serving as the US ambassador to the UN in 2005-2006, he is also known for his critical attitude towards the organization.
During the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush held various positions in the State Department, Department of Justice, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). During the George W. Bush administration, he was Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
Bolton is known for his conservative views on foreign policy. He is a supporter of a hard line towards the countries of the so-called “axis of evil” – North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Russia and its allies. In particular, in 2002, Bolton accused the Cuban leadership and Fidel Castro personally of exporting biological weapons to “rogue states”. In 2003, he became an active supporter of the invasion of Iraq. In May 2007, Bolton called on the US presidential administration to conduct a military operation against Iran as soon as possible.
In June 2010, together with a number of prominent politicians, he founded the international public organization “Friends of Israel Initiative”, one of the tasks of which is to fight against the delegitimization of the state of Israel.
In recent years, Bolton has advocated arming Ukraine and giving it the prospect of NATO membership. He has also criticized the foreign policy of US President Barack Obama, and viewed the situation in Ukraine as an example of failed decisions by official Washington.
Conclusion
John Bolton remains one of the most influential voices among American politicians who support Ukraine. His warnings about Trump’s policy and negotiations with Putin should be taken into account, as not only the fate of Ukraine but also the future of the entire world order will depend on the decisions of the new US president.
Kateryna Yashchuk
