Split in the Republican Party: 'Reaganites' shocked at how Trump is radically shifting policy towards Russia.

Republicans who served under President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War have condemned Donald Trump's decision to soften relations with Russia and undermine the 75-year-old transatlantic alliance.

At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President Jay D. Vance made a statement that stunned European partners. According to him, the greatest threat to Europe comes not from outside, but from within – through 'a retreat from fundamental values'. This rhetoric sharply contrasts with the traditional U.S. position as a guarantor of European security, The Guardian reports.

The meeting of top U.S. and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday raised even more concerns. The fact that neither Ukraine nor European partners were invited to the negotiations is seen by many as the first step towards possible capitulation to Moscow.

Ken Adelman, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN and Director of Arms Control under Reagan, does not hide his outrage: 'I am nauseated by what is happening. The Trump administration is completely ignoring 80 years of Atlantic cooperation and Ukraine's sovereignty.' Adelman, who accompanied Reagan to three summits with Mikhail Gorbachev, draws a stark contrast between the two presidents: 'Reagan told Gorbachev to 'tear down this wall', while Trump is effectively telling Putin 'do whatever you want'.

The Republican Party has always been a symbol of staunch anti-communism and opposition to Russia. The U.S. still maintains tens of thousands of troops in Western Europe as a guarantee of democratic stability. However, since 2015, when Trump began his presidential campaign, he has steadily promoted nationalist populism and has shown an odd leniency towards Putin. Most Republicans have embraced this new line, while dissenters like Mike Pence, Liz Cheney, and Adam Kinzinger have been purged from the party.

Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director, reminds: 'The U.S. and Europe fought in a world war to stop Nazism. Criticizing Germany for confronting this threat is foolish.' John Bolton, former Trump National Security Advisor, believes that the administration is deliberately provoking European partners: 'I am sure they were sitting in his office and saying: what can we say to shock the Europeans? This is part of the Trump administration's policy – to publicly hit their friends. They do not publicly hit the Russians and Chinese.'

According to Bolton, most Republicans in Congress do not actually support pro-Russian policies but are afraid to speak out. The reason is simple – Trump has significant influence over the party's voters and can retaliate against anyone who opposes him.

Bolton added: 'The good news is that I don't think most Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate want Russia to come out of this situation with advantages. The bad news is that they are afraid to say this publicly.'

The situation is so serious that France called an emergency European summit in Paris. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he would not accept any agreements made behind Kyiv's back. However, at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago, Trump effectively blamed Ukraine for dragging the war out.

As Bill Kristol, former official in the Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations, said: 'Reagan would say that NATO and the U.S. commitment to Europe have preserved European peace for 80 years. It is foolish and reckless to put that at risk. And for what? To appease Putin?'