Russian Senator Alexey Pushkov on Saturday praised President Donald Trump’s exploration of a diplomatic solution with North Korea and called his actions "not senseless."
"Trump is not senseless. He weighs risks. This is demonstrated by his refusal to strike North Korea, and inclusion of China in [diplomatic talks] rather than conflict with it," Pushkov tweeted.
Trump has held extensive talks with China in recent weeks, urging Beijing to assist the United States in pressuring North Korea to stop its nuclear program.
U.S. officials said they suspected North Korean leader Kim Jong-un of planning an underground nuclear test after its government pledged a "big and important event" for Saturday. But North Korea only showed off its missiles during a military parade and warned it was ready for "all-out war," while accusing Trump of "creating a war situation."
Trump on Wednesday dispatched the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to the Korean Peninsula after North Korea's latest missile test last week. A U.S. official also said Trump was ready to use conventional weapons in a pre-emptive strike should North Korea follow through with a nuclear weapons test this weekend.
Pushkov has been has been critical of Trump's foreign policy decisions in recent months, but is pressing for a diplomatic solution with North Korea.
"In the case of North Korea, as with Iran, there need to be political methods of solving the problem. Military methods will solve nothing, are highly dangerous and can lead to war," he tweeted.