US "values and international norms": Obama urges Trump to stand up to Russia's Putin

President Barack Obama has urged his successor Donald Trump to stand up to Russia if it deviates from US "values and international norms", and not simply "cut some deals" with Russian leader Vladimir Putin when convenient.


In a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama said on Thursday that while he does not expect Trump to "follow exactly our blueprint or our approach", he is hopeful the president-elect will pursue constructive policies that defend democratic values and the rule of law.

He said Trump should not "simply take a realpolitik approach and suggest that if we just cut some deals with Russia, even if it hurts people or even if it violates international norms or even if it leaves smaller countries vulnerable or creates long-term problems in regions like Syria, that we just do whatever's convenient at the time".
 aljazeera.com
17/11/16