Bolton: Trump Legitimizing ‘Pariah’ Putin With Alaska Summit

John Bolton, a former national security adviser during President Donald Trump’s first administration, on Sunday said he is skeptical about the president’s approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of their upcoming meeting in Alaska, warning it could undermine Ukraine and the Western alliance while giving the Russian leader too much control.

“I think Trump has made some mistakes already,” Bolton said in an interview with ABC News’ “This Week,” commenting that holding the meeting on American soil means that Trump is legitimizing Putin, the “pariah leader of a rogue state.”

Trump is also allowing Putin to get the upper hand by putting his peace plan on the table before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has an opportunity to present his, said Bolton.

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