President Trump Tells Aides Not To Publicize American Support Of Ukraine, Fears Angering Putin

President Donald Trump doesn’t want his aides to publicize his decision to give American weapons to Ukraine while the country is fighting off Russian-backed separatists.

According to NBC, multiple senior administration officials said Trump was afraid the announcement might cause tension with Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin.

Officials noted that Trump has appeared to be coming down a bit harder on Putin and Russia lately. They said it may have more to do with Putin questioning Trump and the U.S.’s strength than Trump seeing Putin as a competitor or enemy.

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The U.S. recently expelled 60 Russian diplomats in response to the country’s recent alleged poisoning of a spy in Great Britain, according to The New York Times. Trump’s administration also formally accused Russia of cyber attacking American infrastructure and transportation facilities two weeks ago.

However, Trump called Putin to congratulate him on his questionable election win last week and defended the move.

“I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also),” Trump tweeted. “The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing.”