President Trump was aware of Russia’s interfering in US elections, National Security Advisor to the President of the United States, Lieutenant-General Herbert McMaster said.
In an interview with the Voice of America, he stressed that the Kremlin’s strategy based on propaganda and disinformation had been improved. According to him, pursuing this line, Russia is making strides in dividing society and setting social groups against each other.
“We have dealt with the problem in our national security strategy, because it is important for us to talk openly about what separates and unites us as a nation, our aspirations and values such as individual rights, rule of law and democracy,” said McMaster.
The Russians were also active in Europe during the recent elections in France and on the Spanish referendum on the status of Catalonia, the General stated.
“We have seen their activity in Mexico, attempts to provoke a coup in Montenegro. To pierce the veil of the Russian campaign of destabilization is an important first step that will allow all to see their true intentions,” he said.
In his opinion, the Kremlin is no longer trustworthy.
“These same people said: ‘No, we did not shoot down the airliner and killed all those people’; ‘No, our soldiers are not in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine’; ‘We do not support the Syrian regime responsible for the mass murder of its own citizens using chemical weapons’. Today these words have no faith,” said McMaster.
General McMaster believes that Russia will have to pay a ‘hefty price’ for supporting terrorist groups like Hezbollah and fuelling conflicts in the Middle East.
