Fmr. U.S. Amb. To Russia: Putin Is a Twister of History, Will Make the Plea That Crimea Has Always Been Part of Russia

RUSH EXCERPT:
McFAUL: "Well, they’re very worried. And I think their greatest concern is that President Trump will go into a one on one meeting with president Putin like he did, by the way, in Helsinki in 2018, the last time they had a big summit, no staffers in the room, no Russia specialists, his specialists. Then back then, Fiona Hill was kicked out. And Putin, I’ve been in meetings with Putin. He is very effective negotiator. He’s a very effective twister of history. And he will then make a plea for why donetsk, Mr. President, is always traditionally been part of Russia, crimea, part of Russia. Acknowledge and recognize these facts, and then they’re going to come out and have a press conference. And President Trump might say that, and that then will tie the hands of president Zelenskyy and his European allies in actually negotiating. That is their greatest fear. It’s my greatest fear to."