WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is sending contradictory messages regarding his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This inconsistency is causing confusion, particularly as the conflict in Ukraine continues. World leaders are closely monitoring the situation, uncertain about Trump’s next moves and whether his rhetoric will translate into actionable steps toward peace in Ukraine.
The Republican billionaire, who took office again in January with a pledge to end the war “in 24 hours,” has often appeared to favor his Russian counterpart, frequently expressing admiration for him.
In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has often found himself at the receiving end of Trump’s criticism, most notably during a heated Oval Office discussion in March.
However, in recent weeks, Trump has shown increasing frustration with Putin’s stance in the stalled ceasefire talks with Kyiv.
On Sunday, amid growing pressure from Republican lawmakers for a firmer approach to Putin, Trump appeared to shift his tone. Following a particularly brutal drone strike by Moscow on Ukraine, he expressed on his Truth Social platform that he believes Putin “wants ALL of Ukraine.”
He cautioned that pursuing such ambitions “will lead to Russia’s downfall!” in a rare critique of the Russian leader.
‘Absolutely Wild’
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely WILD!”
Despite Trump’s comments, there was little indication that his criticism resonated, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicating that the current “very critical moment” was filled with “emotional reactions.”
In response to Trump’s remarks, Russia reportedly launched 355 drones against Ukraine, marking the largest assault since the beginning of the 2022 invasion, just a day after Russian strikes resulted in 13 fatalities.
This weekend’s attacks occurred as diplomatic initiatives to conclude the three-year war intensified, featuring a prisoner exchange and direct negotiations between the opposing sides.
European leaders expressed optimism that Trump’s outburst might indicate a potential shift in approach. “President Trump realizes that when President Putin claimed he was ready for peace, he was lying,” remarked France’s leader Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Vietnam.
“We once again saw Donald Trump express his frustration, a form of impatience,” Macron continued. “I sincerely hope this translates into concrete action.”
US Credibility at Risk
Macron remarked that it’s time to threaten Russia with “much more significant sanctions” to motivate them to end the conflict. “The credibility of the United States is at stake.”
However, it’s unclear which direction Trump will take in the coming days, especially since his pointed critiques of Zelensky have continued.
In his social media post on Sunday, Trump also criticized Zelensky, who earlier warned that “the silence of America, the silence from others around the world only emboldens Putin.” Trump stated, “Zelensky is doing his country no favors with his rhetoric. Everything he says creates problems; I don’t like it, and it needs to stop.”
While Trump’s brash statements may be entertaining, his accomplishments in foreign policy remain limited, particularly regarding Ukraine, the Iran nuclear deal, or the ongoing war in Gaza.
During his previous term, Trump often boasted about his unique negotiating skills, claiming to possess the potential for deal-making, which included meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Although historically significant for a Western leader, those interactions did little to alter Kim’s aggressive conduct.
