Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton spoke critically about recent geopolitical developments, including a summit in China, which he sees as a reflection of strengthened ties between Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Bolton, also a former U.S. ambassador to the UN, argued that these events underscore the damage caused by Donald Trump’s policies since his return to the White House.
“There is a lot of bad news here and very little good news,” Bolton said, emphasizing the reversal of decades-long Western efforts to pivot India away from Cold War-era ties with Russia. He noted that Trump’s recent actions risk returning India closer to Russia and strengthening its alignment with China.
He criticized Trump for rejecting what Modi saw as close negotiations with the U.S. and for imposing 25% tariffs on India, which he said deeply offended Indian officials.
Regarding prospects for peace in Ukraine, Bolton expressed extreme pessimism:
“I think the whole effort is being destroyed. The chances for peace in Ukraine are probably worse now than before the Alaska summit. Putin literally escaped accountability. Whatever he told Trump in Alaska, he just ignores it and increases attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, does not reduce Russian military efforts, and makes no concessions.”
Bolton also stated that he believes Trump will likely withdraw from efforts to secure peace in Ukraine, while Putin has humiliated Trump.
“I don’t think he understands it, but Putin believes his old magic has returned—that his KGB training allowed him to blind Trump. The Kremlin is doing extremely well with this,” Bolton concluded in an interview with Sky News.
