Trump’s Disappointment Will Have No Adverse Consequences for Putin*
The telephone conversation between the two presidents proves yet again that the Kremlin is not ready to abandon its imperialist goals in the war with Ukraine. And the Russian dictator can easily stomach his counterpart’s displeasure.
It is certainly an astonishing admission from the man who once bragged about how he could end the bloodshed in Ukraine within 24 hours. He made “no progress with him at all” Donald Trump conceded after his latest one-hour phone call with Russia’s supreme warlord, Vladimir Putin. It was already the sixth extended conversation between the two men — an exchange that the Kremlin’s briefing later characterized as being “on the same page. [... ] candid, business-minded, and concrete.”
Pandering to the President’s Ego
Such statements cannot be taken at face value. Moscow’s narrative is working its magic, as Putin seeks to massage the ego of an American president who considers himself the United States’ Dealmaker-in-Chief and who views diplomacy as a means to broker business deals to his own advantage. It also lays bare Russia's strength vis-à-vis the weakness of American diplomacy under this president.
Trump is singularly intent on accommodating Russia, whether for economic or geopolitical reasons such as breaking the close ties that have developed between Moscow and Beijing, or for entirely different reasons known only to himself. To that end, the U.S. president is prepared to increase pressure on Ukraine with its latest moratorium on arms shipments. In contrast to his allies in London, Paris and Berlin — and a few Republican senators — what happens to Ukraine is of no concern to the current leader in the White House. To Trump’s mind, international law, self-determination and fundamental democratic rights in Europe are of negligible value. Deals that can be measured in dollars are what count in his book. By this logic, supporting Ukraine is costing the U.S. vast amounts of money, but bringing in nothing in return. Putin plays up this point with every telephone call, betting on the likelihood Trump will eventually lose interest in supporting Kyiv, and force a peace deal that meets Moscow’s conditions but is no real peace at all.
*Editor’s Note: This article is available in its original language with a paid subscription.
It is certainly an astonishing admission from the man who once bragged about how he could end the bloodshed in Ukraine within 24 hours. He made “no progress with him at all” Donald Trump conceded after his latest one-hour phone call with Russia’s supreme warlord, Vladimir Putin. It was already the sixth extended conversation between the two men — an exchange that the Kremlin’s briefing later characterized as being “on the same page. [... ] candid, business-minded, and concrete.”
Pandering to the President’s Ego
Such statements cannot be taken at face value. Moscow’s narrative is working its magic, as Putin seeks to massage the ego of an American president who considers himself the United States’ Dealmaker-in-Chief and who views diplomacy as a means to broker business deals to his own advantage. It also lays bare Russia's strength vis-à-vis the weakness of American diplomacy under this president.
Trump is singularly intent on accommodating Russia, whether for economic or geopolitical reasons such as breaking the close ties that have developed between Moscow and Beijing, or for entirely different reasons known only to himself. To that end, the U.S. president is prepared to increase pressure on Ukraine with its latest moratorium on arms shipments. In contrast to his allies in London, Paris and Berlin — and a few Republican senators — what happens to Ukraine is of no concern to the current leader in the White House. To Trump’s mind, international law, self-determination and fundamental democratic rights in Europe are of negligible value. Deals that can be measured in dollars are what count in his book. By this logic, supporting Ukraine is costing the U.S. vast amounts of money, but bringing in nothing in return. Putin plays up this point with every telephone call, betting on the likelihood Trump will eventually lose interest in supporting Kyiv, and force a peace deal that meets Moscow’s conditions but is no real peace at all.
*Editor’s Note: This article is available in its original language with a paid subscription.
Previous article![]( "Global Aid without the US")
Next article![]( "Big Tech Wants a Say in EU Law: More Might for the Mighty")