George W. Bush, who was the 43rd President of the United States, said in 2009 that Russia is capable of aggression in Crimea. He passed this information on to the next president, Barack Obama.
This was reported in The New York Times. They noted that the information was obtained from forty declassified notes.
“Watch Russia: it demands territory from neighboring Ukraine,” one document said.
War Warning
The NYT explained that Bush Jr. was preparing documents to warn successors about critical foreign policy and national security issues. US relations with Russia were reported to have deteriorated since the invasion of Georgia in 2008.
Russian attempts to challenge Ukraine's territorial integrity, especially Crimea, which is 59% ethnically Russian and home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, must be prevented. It will exploit Europe's dependence on Russian energy and use political means to kill the wedges between the US and Europe, Bush Jr. warned 5 years before the occupation of Crimea.
Other disclaimers
Bush Jr. also noted that India is a friend of the United States. Do not take Pakistan and trust North Korea or Iran. However, the 43rd President emphasized that it is still better to have dialogue with these countries.
“Beware of falling into the trap of land wars in the Middle East and Central Asia,” Bush Jr. noted.
U.S. Supports Ukraine: Breaking News
- U.S. President Joe Biden visited Kiev. This is the first American leader to visit Ukraine in the last 15 years. Volodymyr Zelensky said that this is the most important visit of an American president in the history of relations between Ukraine and the United States.
- America has announced a new $460 million aid package for Ukraine. This will include HIMARS, air surveillance radars, Javelin anti-tank systems, Bradley Infantry Fire Support Team vehicles, night vision devices.
- Artillery ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is produced in Pennsylvania. 11 thousand units can be created per month.
