George W. Bush mocks Putin for “deciding to be a 30-year-old gymnast” and jokes about meeting his huge dog – and suggests that the United States could create a “union of convenience” with China against Russia
- Former President George W. Bush recalls some memorable interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin
- He discussed how the Russian president miscalculated the invasion of Ukraine at an event on Tuesday night in Chicago
- Bush says he introduced Putin to his Scottish Terrier Barney, and Putin “disappointed” him
- “A year later, Laura and I are going to visit Vladimir and his wife – that was before he decided to be a 30-year-old gymnast,” Bush said.
- There, Bush said that “a huge Russian dog is running outside,” as Putin told the US president, “Bigger, stronger and faster than Barney.”
- Bush also said the United States could create a “union of convenience” with China because China does not want to be “too comfortable” with Putin at the moment.
Former President George W. Bush recalled some memorable interactions with the Russian president Vladimir Putinwhile discussing how the Russian president misjudged the invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday night in Chicago.
“I introduced Vladimir Putin to Barney, our Scottish Terrier, and [Putin] they disappointed him. A year later, Laura and I visit Vladimir and his wife – that was before he decided to be a 30-year-old gymnast – and he says, “I want you to meet my dog,” Bush recalled. , according to Politico.
Bush said he had “escaped a huge Russian greyhound”, and Putin told the US president: “Bigger, stronger and faster than Barney.”
The former republican The president also said that while Russia and China seem to be working in tandem, there may be an opportunity for the United States to form a “union of convenience” with the Asian nation.
Former President George W. Bush (left) spoke in Chicago on Tuesday night, mentioning how Russian President Vladimir Putin “removed” his Scottish Terrier Barney (right).
Bush recalled meeting with Putin (left) and his wife, noting that this was before “he decided to be a 30-year-old gymnast,” a reference to Putin’s “secret first lady” Alina Kabayeva (right).
Putin (left) with his dog Akita Yume (right) in December 2016
“I don’t think they want to be too comfortable with Putin at this point,” Bush suggested.
“So this could be an opportunity to conduct some kind of diplomacy [creates] a union of convenience, “he said. “The president’s foreign policy team has the opportunity to deal with China in a way that will surprise the country.”
Bush said Putin “loves the idea” of isolating China against the United States.
“The idea that China needs Putin’s energy gives Putin a chance to tell the world, ‘The United States is no longer as important as it used to be. Now it’s Russia and China. ” And that simply will not take into account his actions in Ukraine, “Bush said.
He said Putin believed the collapse of the Soviet Union was bad for the Russian people.
“So we’re watching him try to restore Soviet hegemony,” Bush said.
But he made a mistake by going to Ukraine, the former president said.
“He chooses weak people for that,” Bush said. “He thought Ukraine was weak, but it is not. Ukraine is showing the backbone and the backbone that this world needs to see a lot.
In addition, Bush reacted to how Germany has strengthened.
Last week, on the eve of Putin’s attack on Ukraine, the German government unplugged the Nord Stream 2 pipeline agreement, which would supply more Russian gas to Germany.
New German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also announced that he would send missiles and anti-tank weapons to Ukraine to help them fight the Russians.
“The behavior of the Germans has completely shifted from becoming pacifists with guilt to people who understand that freedom is under attack and we need to do something about it,” Bush said.
Bush speaks at a charity fundraiser for the Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Illinois.
During the Bush administration, Putin was married to Lyudmila Alexandrovna Ocheretnaya, whom he divorced in 2014.
Putin, 69, has been romantically linked to Russian gymnast Alina Kabayeva, 38, since 2008.
The couple reportedly have several children together.
Kabayeva disappeared from the public for more than two and a half years and after reappeared in August to criticize the judges of the Tokyo Olympics for not giving a gold medal to a Russian gymnast.
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