Former US national security adviser, General HR McMaster, has told Sky News Vladimir Putin is hopeful that he will be able to "manipulate Donald Trump into an agreement that favours Russia".
General McMaster worked for the president during Trump's first term in power.
European powers are meeting in France later to discuss the crisis in European security triggered by Trump's decision to hold direct talks with Russia on Ukraine without Europe's leaders.
General HR McMaster said the war in Ukraine was Russia's first step in trying to change the balance of power in Europe.
"Russia wants to completely subjugate Ukraine, as the first step in shifting the balance in Europe in favour of Russia and in favour of this axis of aggressors," he said.
"It's important to President Trump to recognise these connections."
#ukrainerussiawar #putin #zelenskyy
Analysis: https://news.sky.com/story/trump-putin-call-ukraine-war-peace-talks-moscow-zelenskyy-kremlin-live-sky-news-latest-12541713
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