NEW YORK: Starting a five-day trip through Eastern Europe, Jeb Bush used a speech in Berlin to promote U.S.-European trade ties and criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin over aggression in Ukraine.
The United States and Europe “have a common interest in the steady opening of markets across the world,” Bush said. “What keeps that progress steady are standards and rules that are modern, transparent, and fair. And that doesn’t happen by itself.”
As for Putin, Bush is urging American and European allies to stand together to try and block the encroachment of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.
“Russia must respect the sovereignty of all of its neighbors,” Bush said. “And who can doubt that Russia will do what it pleases if its aggression goes unanswered?”
The former Florida governor added: “Our alliance, our solidarity and our actions are essential if we want to preserve the fundamental principles of our international order … an order that free nations have sacrificed so much to build?”
Bush, who is scheduled to announce his 2016 presidential campaign plans on Monday, will give remarks and take questions before the economic council of the Christian Democratic Party, a conservative party led by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The talk begins a trip that will also tale him to Poland and Estonia. Bush is scheduled to return to the United States on Saturday.
The Berlin speech made a reference to the name of Bush’s Super PAC, Right To Rise.
“In practice, so often human freedom comes down to economic freedom,” Bush said. “In the democratic world, we understand that opportunity belongs to everyone. At a time when so many are still kept down — by poverty, tyranny, or both — we stand for the right to rise.”
