Photo: EPA
Former U.S. President Donald Trump made another statement about Vladimir Putin, Europe, and NATO during a press conference on March 16.
Trump said that the Russian leader does not fear European countries but is afraid of the United States and its military power. According to him, the U.S. is the key force within the North Atlantic Alliance.
“NATO is essentially us. Without the United States, NATO would practically not exist. Putin does not fear Europe. He fears the United States. He fears the United States of America,” Trump said.
The American leader also noted that Washington is involved in supporting Ukraine even though the country is located thousands of kilometers away from the United States.
“We are protecting them and cooperating with them regarding Ukraine, even though it is thousands of miles away from us. And frankly, we are not obligated to do that,” he said.
Trump added that the United States remains the main force deterring Russia, while Europe’s role in security matters, in his opinion, is insufficient.
This is not the first time Trump has made similar remarks. At the beginning of 2026, he also stated that the Russian president does not fear Europe but is wary of the United States — “especially under his leadership.”
At the same time, Trump has repeatedly said that he gets along well with Putin, although he admitted he was “very disappointed” because he expected a faster resolution to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
