Trump is turning U.S. into regional power – diplomat

Ukrainian diplomat Oleksandr Matsuka, who served as head of the UN Security Council Secretariat from 2009 to 2016, shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

“If the U.S. stops providing aid to Ukraine, of course that’s a problem. But for us, it’s only a matter of time before the political winds shift in Washington. Right now, the U.S. is simply losing its reputation as a global leader. And this isn’t just about us — it’s about the U.S. as well. Trump’s current stance is effectively turning the United States into a regional power. The U.S. is losing its global leadership, and that leadership brings major economic benefits.”

According to Matsuka, the U.S. can still reclaim its leadership if it continues to support Ukraine and commits to defeating Russian aggression.

“I’m often surprised to read that Donald Trump and his administration don’t seem to grasp that leadership is what gives them the advantages they enjoy today. If the U.S. pulls out of NATO, Europeans will start taking care of their own security and stop listening to Washington. If the U.S. loses its foreign policy initiative, it will inevitably lose economic influence as well. The Monroe Doctrine may have worked in the 19th century, but today it’s a path to self-destruction,” he said.

“Someone in the U.S. needs to understand that, however cynical it may sound, Ukraine is a platform for America to demonstrate its leadership — or else the democratic world may soon be searching for a new leader,” Matsuka added.