Trump’s bent words in the Ukraine war
President Trump has been repeatedly martyred as the origin of his “very good” relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, this “very good” relationship has surrendered anything in terms of the most absorbed Kremlin approach to the settlement of the war of Russia, Ukraine.
Putin has not taken any dangerous steps in response to Trump’s calls to stop the fighting. So Trump must support his words with actions.
In 2024, Trump claimed that he could end the war within 24 hours. On January 22, just two days after his return to the presidency, Trump addressed the struggle over the social truth: “I love the Russian people, and I always had a very good relationship with President Putin … all of this, I will say, I will do Russia, so everything that does not happen,” and difference, difference, and the fastest in that, “and difference, difference, and make him lead.” Tax levels, definitions and sanctions on anything that Russia is sold … ”
Several days later, Putin praised Trump as “smart” and “pragmatism.” However, the Russian president did not propose any change in the approach of his war against Ukraine. Trump did not take any action.
On March 11, the Trump administration obtained a 30 -day ceasefire agreement. Steve Whitchov, a businessman who is negotiating with Moscow, transferred the suggestion of the ceasefire directly to Putin after three days. Putin did not accept this, but instead submitted a much narrower agreement to stop the attacks on energy infrastructure. Trump did not take any action.
The fighting was intensified. On March 30-Russia is still refusing a full ceasefire of the United States-Trump said that Putin’s interrogation of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zellinsky made him “very angry, angry”. But Trump did not take any action.
During the night of 23 to 24 April, the Russian army struck Kiev with a barrage of missiles and ballistic aircraft, killing 12 civilians and wounding more than 90. Trump wrote that he was “unhappy” and continues, “Vladimir, stop! … Let’s [sic] Get the peace deal! ”
Putin’s response? Russian drones mocked Trump’s invitation, killing eight other Ukrainians the next night. Once again, Trump has not taken any action, not even to delay the fourth and Takouf visit to Moscow. On April 25, his envoy received Putin with a wide and friendly smile.
Putin was playing Trump. Does the American president now understand this? On April 26, he posted on the social truth attacking the attacking presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden for not doing enough for Ukraine – and he failed to mention that, during the first period of Trump, he did nothing to return the Crimea to Ukraine or end the fighting in Donbas.
His position continued: “With everything that is said, there was no reason for Putin to shoot missiles in civilian areas, cities and towns, during the past few days. This makes me think that he may not want to stop the war, he only exploits me, and must be dealt with differently, through“ banking ”or“ secondary penalties? “
Will Trump finally take measures? Putin has learned from experience to expecting that there are no real measures, only words, from the American president. These words seem increasingly impotent and weak.
Trump was choosing to act, and he had a lot of possible financial lever. Western sanctions have affected Putin’s economy, but less than expected, largely due to gaps. Trump can work with the European Union and other American partners to close the sanctions gaps and raise the economic costs of Russia for the continuation of the war.
Trump can ask Congress more money for military assistance to Ukraine. Only I will ask the Kremlin to consider Russia’s prospects on the battlefield if the United States continues to provide weapons to the Ukrainian army. Trump can also work with the Group of Seven and the European Union to seize the descent of the frozen central bank and turn it into a box that Kyiv can attract to finance weapons and reconstruction purchases.
Such actions will face Putin that if he continues to war and does not follow negotiations seriously, the military, economic and political costs of Russia will rise.
On April 27, Trump told the press, “I want it [Putin] To stop shooting and sitting and concluding a deal, “but if Russian attacks continue,” I have a lot of things I can do. ”
Trump has already many things that he can do to make the Russians a more serious approach to ending the war. If he wants to get Putin’s attention, he must start doing it.
Stephen Bever, one of the affiliates of the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation, is a former American ambassador to Ukraine.
