After President Donald Trump struck a diesel deal with Moscow and demanded leadership change in Kyiv, his top general at NATO praised Ukraine and warned Russia against attacking Europe.
Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top commander and the head of U.S. forces in Europe, said on Oct. 12 at the Warsaw Security Forum that his forces were prepared to fight back if Russian forces assault a NATO country.
“If someone is foolish enough to attack us, we will fight,” he said. “We will, in short, ensure any attack, against any ally, proves utterly futile.”
Grynkewich’s comments come days after Trump struck a deal with Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel fuel even as Moscow has escalated acts of aggression against European countries in recent weeks.
“I think
our populations around the alliance are a bit nervous,” Grynkewich said. “What I want to do is assure the one billion citizens of our alliance that we’ve got this.”
The diesel deal was condemned by both European leaders and members of the president’s own party, who argued that the United States should not ease pressure on Russia at a time when it is increasing attacks on Ukraine and Europe more broadly.
Trump also lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Oct. 10, calling for leadership change in Kyiv and blaming Zelenskyy for refusing to make a deal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The U.S. president’s recent actions have left European allies once again wondering about whether they could count on Washington to come to their defense if Putin decides to attack.
“Providing the aggressor with additional sources of revenue will not bring us any closer to a just and lasting peace,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told USA TODAY. “Only sustained support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Russia can help bring the war to a just conclusion.”
In Poland, a NATO ally that shares a border with Russia, Grynkewich sought to assuage European fears about whether Washington would support its allies in the event of an attack.
“No one should question the commitment of the United States to this alliance,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly complained to Zelenskyy about Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, which he has blamed for high diesel prices. Zelenskyy has defended the strikes, arguing that Russia uses the refineries to finance its war against Ukraine.
Grynkewich, however, struck a different tone. He praised the “fighting spirit of the Ukrainians” and acknowledged that Russian attacks on energy infrastructure will make for a very challenging winter in Ukraine.
“They’re going to get through this winter,” Grynkewich said of the Ukrainians. “They’re going to come out of it with more resolve.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's top NATO general: 'We will fight' if Russia attacks Europe
