Nerve-Wracking Back and Forth
Published in Taz
(Germany) on 9 July 2025
by Barbara Oertel (link to original)
(Germany) on 9 July 2025
by Barbara Oertel (link to original)
Translated from
by Peter Carioca.
Edited by Patricia Simoni.
A week ago, he didn't want to send arms, but now Trump is considering it. For Ukraine, American aid is decisive for the war.
Has Donald Trump finally understood Moscow's true intentions for Ukraine? At least rhetorically, the U.S. president is noticeably arming himself. The times of the "good and fruitful" phone calls with nice Vladimir Putin are over. Instead, Putin has been talking meaningless “nonsense” — an assessment that often applies to Trump as well.
The halt that was imposed last week on arms deliveries promised under previous U.S. President Joe Biden is already water under the bridge. Now, according to the announcement, Patriot air defense missiles are to be made available to Kyiv; it would be hasty to come to a conclusion about the true reason for Trump's change of heart. For Trump, Ukraine is a "distant memory"; however, as yet no military equipment has reached Ukraine.
It is enough to take serious note of statements from Russia to see where things are headed. Last week, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov once again let the public know Russia's conditions for a peace agreement to be reached.
These include well-known demands, such as recognition of the four partially occupied Ukrainian territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia; the lifting of all sanctions against Russia, and, not to be forgotten, the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. Former president and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, put it in his usual drastic terms, declaring he wants to continue fighting to "reclaim" Ukraine and work for victory.
However, the majority of Ukrainians have decided to continue fighting despite the country’s being subjected to a veritable bombing terror, including most recently in the western city of Lutsk. The people are still hoping, above all, for military support from the U.S.
Has Donald Trump finally understood Moscow's true intentions for Ukraine? At least rhetorically, the U.S. president is noticeably arming himself. The times of the "good and fruitful" phone calls with nice Vladimir Putin are over. Instead, Putin has been talking meaningless “nonsense” — an assessment that often applies to Trump as well.
The halt that was imposed last week on arms deliveries promised under previous U.S. President Joe Biden is already water under the bridge. Now, according to the announcement, Patriot air defense missiles are to be made available to Kyiv; it would be hasty to come to a conclusion about the true reason for Trump's change of heart. For Trump, Ukraine is a "distant memory"; however, as yet no military equipment has reached Ukraine.
It is enough to take serious note of statements from Russia to see where things are headed. Last week, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov once again let the public know Russia's conditions for a peace agreement to be reached.
These include well-known demands, such as recognition of the four partially occupied Ukrainian territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia; the lifting of all sanctions against Russia, and, not to be forgotten, the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. Former president and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, put it in his usual drastic terms, declaring he wants to continue fighting to "reclaim" Ukraine and work for victory.
However, the majority of Ukrainians have decided to continue fighting despite the country’s being subjected to a veritable bombing terror, including most recently in the western city of Lutsk. The people are still hoping, above all, for military support from the U.S.
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