Former U.S. Official Criticizes Trump

The United States did not take sufficient steps to stop Russia and restore peace in Ukraine back in 2014. This statement was made by former CIA director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the Black Sea Security Forum in Odessa.

"I regret that we did not take enough actions in 2014 and 2022… I was involved in the Minsk negotiations… We were already at the negotiating table and saw and heard a lot. It seemed that a certain line of control had been established, but that did not prevent the massive aggression in 2022," he said.

"Even if the war stops, we cannot return to Russian gas, as Moscow can find a new target for its aggression at any time. It could be the north or the Mediterranean, where the Russian Federation has its military contingent. If Putin lays down his arms, we must understand that it can easily happen again. And it may not be Ukraine, but any other region where the Russian military contingent is present," he added.