Putin Echoes Trump On Impeachment To Disrupt US Politics, Not As A Show Of Friendship

In remarks that should surprise no one, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the impeachment of Donald Trump was based on "made-up reasons" and he expected his U.S. counterpart to be acquitted.

During Putin's end-of-the-year press conference in Moscow on Thursday, he was asked if he was prepared for the possibility of a new American leader. “You make it sound as if [Trump's presidency] is already coming to an end," he replied.

“This is just the continuation of the internal political battle, one party that lost the elections, the Democrats, and are now trying to find new ways by accusing Trump of collusion with Russia. But then it turns out there was no collusion. This can't be the basis for the impeachment,” Putin said. Does that sound familiar?

The Russian president’s views on the Trump impeachment – which parrots Trump’s own remarks on the proceedings – might be seen as a display of solidarity and international friendship at first glance, but that’s hardly Putin’s intent.

Few observers of Russian politics would dispute the fact that the actions and words Putin employs are anything but wholly deliberate. He’s a shrewd leader and has displayed a keen ability to manipulate political processes in rival nations. When it comes to Putin’s relationship with Trump, it is no different.

Putin is entirely aware of the antagonism that exists between the United States and Russia and particularly the fierce animosity Democrats hold toward his government at least since 2016. While it is hardly up for debate that Russia played an important role in influencing the 2016 presidential election in the U.S., in many ways Democrats’ and the American public’s reaction to this connection between Putin and Trump have served his agenda very well so far.

Although seeing Trump win the White House helped Putin further his foreign policy goals, like the ending of economic sanctions, the Russian leader is ultimately more interested in helping to stir up chaos in American politics. Regardless of one’s political leanings, it is hard to say this hasn’t been achieved over the last several years.

Putin knows full well that by slamming the Democrats’ push to impeach Trump, he helps to further nudge the American democratic process off its axis. Those who are convinced of an uncouth relationship between Trump and Putin will point to these recent comments as further evidence, while Trump supporters will likely view Putin’s words as being sensible and diplomatic.

At the end of the day, Putin is only interested in friendship with Trump insofar as it can further his destructive designs on American politics.