President Obama said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin “does not have good cards” in the high-stakes feud with the West over Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine.
“Putin does not have good cards, and he actually has not played them as well as sometimes the Western press seems to give him credit for,” Mr. Obama said in a meeting with business leaders at the White House.
The president said the revolution against the Moscow-backed government in Kiev earlier this year “actually took Russia by surprise.”
“There has been an improvisational quality to this whole process,” Mr. Obama said. “And it’s working for him politically, domestically, but profoundly damaging in terms of their economy long-term, not just short-term.”
The U.S. and European allies have imposed a series of economic sanctions against Russia and individuals in Mr. Putin’s inner circle. The Obama administration has offered economic aid and other support to the new democratically elected government in Ukraine in its fight against pro-Russia separatists.
The president said he is “intent on preventing” Mr. Putin from creating a rift in the U.S. alliances with European nations.
“And the way to prevent it is making sure that we are taking into account the very real economic impact on Europe from these sanctions, being measured in terms of how we apply them and having some strategic patience,” Mr. Obama said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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