The Islamic State's threat against Russian President Vladimir Putin because of the support he has given to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "complicates things, both for him and us," Steve Bucci of the Heritage Foundation tells
Newsmax TV.
"The Russians have had a significant problem with Islamic radicals inside of Russia for a long time, since the first two Chechnyan wars and the other actions that have occurred," Bucci explained to J.D. Hayworth on "America's Forum" Friday.
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"I don't think that should give him a pass for all the nonsense he's doing in Ukraine though," the former military assistant to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
"Our government needs to realize, yes, sometimes you cooperate over here, but you're having an adversary relationship over there, and Putin's kind of set this up himself and we need to call him on it," he added.
A
ceasefire between Ukraine and Russian separatists was agreed to Friday, but Bucci warns that no one "should trust Vladimir Putin because he has been extremely duplicitous."
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