McMaster: ‘We have failed to impose sufficient costs’ on Russia

President Trump’s outgoing national security adviser H.R. McMaster said the U.S. has “failed to impose sufficient costs” on Russia, which has resulted in the Kremlin becoming more emboldened. 

“We have failed to impose sufficient costs” on Russia, McMaster said at an Atlantic Council event with Baltic leaders on Tuesday. 

“The Kremlin’s confidence is growing,” he continued. “Russia has used old and new forms of aggression to undermine our open societies.”

{mosads}

The comments marked McMaster’s first remarks since Trump announced he would be replacing him with former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.

McMaster did offer praise for the Trump administration’s handling of Russian aggression, including its response to a nerve-agent attack on a former Russian spy in the U.K. last month.

“In the United States, President Trump ordered the removal of dozens of Russian intelligence officers and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. This action will also help protect our democratic institutions and processes as these Russian officers orchestrate Russia’s sustained campaign of propaganda, disinformation and political subversion,” he said. 

Trump issued his strongest action against Russia last week when he ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats in the U.S. in the wake of the U.K. nerve-agent attack.

The president on Tuesday said during a press conference that he has been tougher on Russia than any of his predecessors, despite facing frequent criticism over his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Ideally we want to get along with Russia. Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Maybe we will, maybe we won’t,” Trump said. “Probably no one has been tougher to Russia than Donald Trump.”