Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was “crazy talk” to suggest that President Trump was going soft on Russia compared to China, North Korea and Iran — particularly in light of the special counsel’s report about Russian election meddling.
”Boy, that’s crazy talk. That’s absolutely crazy talk,” he said during an interview with CNBC, according to a transcript released Monday, before taking a shot at former President Barack Obama’s administration.
“And I’ve heard it from the previous administration. They said, `Oh, we’re not tough on Russia.’ I only wish they would have stopped the election interference. I only wish they hadn’t gutted the defense budget to the great benefit of Vladimir Putin. Right?” Pompeo continued.
“We’ve put real money into our Defense Department. Vladimir Putin can’t possibly think that’s a good thing for him.”
Pompeo will meet this week with Putin to discuss “a broad range of issues” and hoped to forge a better working relationship with the Russian strongman.
“President Trump’s asked me to go to Russia to talk about a broad range of issues. We have lots of places where I hope we can find overlapping interests with Russia,” he said.
“There are places that we’ll have a value set that is radically different. That we’ll have different views. In those places, we’re going to protect America’s interests. But in those places where we can find common ground or an overlapping interest, it’s completely appropriate, and, indeed, my duty and a necessity, that we work together.”
Pompeo has changed the schedule for his latest trip to Europe, substituting a stop in Brussels for one in Moscow to discuss Iran and other issues with European officials.
State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus says Pompeo, who departed Sunday night, was still expected to meet Tuesday in Sochi with Russian President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The visit to Sochi will be Pompeo’s first to Russia as secretary of state.
Twice last week, Pompeo changed his travel schedule at the last minute, also citing matters dealing with Iran. He canceled a stop in Berlin to fly to Iraq, then canceled a stop in Greenland to fly home from London.
With AP
