Ex-NATO commander warns Trump may trade Ukraine for help on Iran
Retired US general Wesley Clark said Donald Trump may be seeking Vladimir Putin's help on Iran in exchange for pressuring Ukraine to capitulate.
Retired US general Wesley Clark, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said on Monday that President Donald Trump may be trying to trade Ukraine's sovereignty for Russian President Vladimir Putin's help in resolving Washington's standoff with Iran, the Kyiv Post reported.
Speaking to NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas, Clark described the possible arrangement as "a very, very corrupt, dangerous bargain," warning that US pressure on Kyiv could push Ukraine towards capitulation while rewarding Moscow for its invasion. "If he can cause Ukraine to fail, he delivers Ukraine to Putin," Clark said.
Clark offered no direct evidence that such a deal was in place, presenting it as his own reading of Trump's recent actions and diplomatic priorities, the Kyiv Post reported. He compared the scenario to the 1938 Munich Agreement, when Britain and France allowed Nazi Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia without its participation.
Clark said he saw growing concern among European security officials during a recent visit to Warsaw, after the United States reportedly cut Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite services and intelligence sharing at a time when Russia fired 38 missiles in one night around Kyiv, according to the Kyiv Post.
His warning comes amid tension between Kyiv and Washington over Trump's decision to ease sanctions on Russian energy, reported restrictions on satellite communications, and delays in delivering missiles. The Trump administration has denied deliberately cutting intelligence sharing with Kyiv or restricting satellite use, the Kyiv Post reported.
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What we know
- Wesley Clark, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said Trump may be trying to trade Ukraine's sovereignty for Putin's help on Iran, the Kyiv Post reported.
- Clark offered no direct evidence of such a deal, describing it as his own interpretation of Trump's actions.
- Clark said he saw growing concern among European security officials during a recent visit to Warsaw.
- The Trump administration has denied deliberately cutting intelligence sharing with Kyiv or restricting satellite use.
Not yet confirmed
- Clark's claim that Putin is offering help on Iran in exchange for concessions on Ukraine is his own assessment, not confirmed by any official statement.
Why it matters for Europe
Clark's comments reflect concern among some Western security figures that US diplomacy with Moscow could come at Ukraine's expense, at a time when Kyiv says delays in missile deliveries and disruptions to satellite services are already affecting its defences against Russian strikes.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 3 countries.
- Kyiv Post: ‘Trump May Trade Ukraine for Putin’s Help on Iran’ – Ex-NATO Commander Warns of ‘Corrupt, Dangerous Bargain’
- Onet Wiadomości: Były dowódca NATO: Trump może poświęcić Ukrainę w zamian za pomoc Putina w sprawie Iranu. Tak to wygląda
- Digi24: Avertismentul unui fost comandant NATO: Trump ar putea sacrifica Ucraina pentru a obține ajutorul lui Putin în problema Iranului
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Who is Wesley Clark?
- A retired US Army general and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
- What did Clark say Trump might do?
- He said Trump may be trying to trade Ukraine's sovereignty for Vladimir Putin's cooperation in resolving the US standoff with Iran.
- Did Clark provide evidence of such a deal?
- No, he presented it as his own interpretation of Trump's recent actions and diplomatic priorities, the Kyiv Post reported.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.