Putin's attempt to 'play Trump' on Ukraine will fail, former national security advisor says

Russian President Vladimir Putin is intensifying his assault on Ukraine despite previously signaling to President Donald Trump that peace might be on the table But one former Trump advisor says Putin s strategy is unlikely to succeed I don t think he can play Donald Trump retired Gen H R McMaster who served as Trump s national precaution advisor from to explained The Brian Kilmeade Show on Wednesday You saw what happened with the Iranians He gave them days right And they went to and he acted PENTAGON'S WEAPONS PAUSE TO UKRAINE COULD ENCOURAGE AND ESCALATE PUTIN S WAR AMBITIONS SHIELD EXPERTSRussia launched its largest aerial strike on Ukraine since the start of the war this week marking an escalation in the conflict McMaster commented this is part of a calculated attempt by Putin to project power and reshape his image This is Putin s ruse He s trying to look strong McMaster informed the Brian Kilmeade Show He s throwing it all in right now because he thinks we don t have the will to help Ukraine SEN LINDSEY GRAHAM RUSSIA SANCTIONS BILL AIMS TO CHANGE PUTIN'S CALCULUS PROTECT WORLD ORDERSEN JEANNE SHAHEEN IF TRUMP WANTS A UKRAINE DEAL HE SHOULD REREAD HIS OWN BOOKThe increase in Russian aggression comes as the Pentagon has paused certain weapons shipments to Ukraine The scrapped deals included Patriot missile interceptors and artillery shells U S authorities have justified the delay by blaming it on dwindling stockpiles and concerns the United States could need them to defend itself While Putin is projecting strength McMaster argued the Russian leader is far weaker than he appears Putin is really in a hurt in terms of his economic situation he disclosed He s not pulling as much out of the ATM as he s been able to pull noting that declining oil prices and skyrocketing military expenses have taken a toll on Russia s business sector According to McMaster these developments could push Trump to take a firmer stance if peace talks continue to falter President Trump is going to come to the conclusion it s time to put more pressure on Putin and that includes sustaining endorsement for the Ukrainians Last month Trump proposed taking a step back in ceasefire negotiations likening Russia and Ukraine to two children fighting He suggested the U S take a step back in negotiations until both countries are willing to come to the table Sometimes you're better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart remarked Trump in early June TRUMP INSISTS UKRAINE-RUSSIA PEACE DEAL IS CLOSE BUT MISTRUST IN PUTIN LEAVES EXPERTS SKEPTICALSome leaders have countered the president s strategy saying U S endorsement is critical to the Ukrainian resistance On Wednesday NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Ukraine cannot win without American aid A secure Europe also means a secure U S Rutte narrated Fox Friends The Dutch leader also noted that a larger Russia that s closer to Europe could pose more of a exposure to U S interests CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP