Russia interprets Trump's 50-day window as a license for Ukraine offensive

Russia interprets Trump's 50-day window as a license for Ukraine offensive

Moscow, Russia - President Trump gave Vladimir Putin an extraordinary freelance ticket, so to speak: 50 days to end his brutal summer offensive in Ukraine before there are consequences.

Only if there is no deal to terminate the war by the end of this period, the threatened 100-percent tumbler in Russia and Secondary sanctions against Russian trading partners come into force.

The mood in Ukraine

The view of such a long period of time may be for millions of sleepless Ukrainians who are currently suffering from an escalating Russian attack with fatal rocket and mass roar attacks on their cities.

The reactions from Moscow

In Moscow, on the other hand, the official breathe breathe up. After all, it could be much worse for them. Sanctions could have been imposed immediately if President Trump had wanted it, or they could have been much higher, as the customs set of 500 percent proposed in the US Senate.

flexible strategies of the Kremlin

The Kremlin has already established a complex network of flexible circumvention strategies to keep its fragile economy stable while refusing to change his behavior. "The experiences have shown that no sanctions against Russia provide results," commented Anatoly Aksakov, an important Russian legislator than he was asked about the latest sanctions threats.

lower expectations of new sanctions

"You lead to Russia confidently progressing, developing its economy and carrying out structural reforms in his national economy," he added. In addition, Kremlin insiders suspect that the 50-day time window offers enough time before the entry into force of new US sanctions to see their military push in Ukraine successfully-or, if this fails to move a notorious president Trump again for course correction.

The strategy of Russian leadership

"A lot can change in 50 days, both on the battlefield and in the mood of the powerful in the USA and NATO," said a prominent Russian Senator, Konstantin Kosachev. "But our mood will not change," he vowed and underlined how Russia sees itself as long-term thinking in relation to Ukraine, while the western governments, especially the Trump administration, are perceived as inconsistent.

causes of the concern of the Kremlin

Nevertheless, Russia is honestly concerned about the prospect of US weapons, even defensive patriot rocket defense systems that flow back to Ukraine. Moscow considers the air raids on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, which take place almost daily as an essential element of his current military advance, parallel to the ongoing offensive on the Ukrainian front.

Risks of a persistent conflict

The idea is to tear the Ukrainian will to continue, that the political will in Europe wanes and the country ultimately surrendered. However, the deal to provide further US patriot rocket defense systems that offer protection against air strikes makes this result less likely.

frustrated Russian politicians are critical of and accuse President Trump to speak of peace while he extends war behind the scenes. "Ukraina, this man is wrong!" said Leonid Kalashnikov, a loud member of the Communist Party. "He wants this war to continue, but not with his own hands," added Kalashnikov.

media echo in Russia

In the state media that are strictly controlled by the Kremlin, Washington's change of course in the provision of weapons for Ukraine was sharply criticized, with President Trump compared to his predecessor, who is widely hated in Russia. "Trump has now stepped into the footsteps of [former US president] Joseph Biden and promises weapons to Ukraine to bring Moscow to the negotiating table," said Olga Skabeyeva, a prominent pro-Kremlin presenter. "Biden has done that in the past three and a half years. But as we know, he had no success," she caught.