Braže urges Europe to judge US by actions, not Trump’s words

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže urged people not to judge the United States solely by President Donald Trump’s statements, saying its actions matter more. She made the remarks about Trump’s apparent rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, LSM reported.

Braže said Trump’s contradictory statements had surprised diplomats, but there was no evidence that Latvia’s relationship with the United States had changed in practice or that the countries’ strategic partnership had shifted.

She also said Europe should focus on taking action to constrain Russia rather than drafting criticism of the United States. Halting the transit of Russian grain and returning two millionaires to sanctions lists would, she said, have a greater impact than Russian diesel exports to the United States.

“The answer is not stronger statements or criticism. The answer is action,” Braže said.

The comments come as Trump has agreed with Putin that Russia will supply several million tonnes of diesel to the United States and other countries in the coming months, in an effort to lower global fuel prices. US politicians have criticised the plan, while experts have said the promised deliveries are unlikely to significantly reduce prices. The article notes that calls have long been made in the United States and Europe to reduce or end purchases of Russian energy, whose export revenues help Moscow finance its war against Ukraine.