Trump apparently loses patience with Putin - why right now?
Trump apparently loses patience with Putin - why right now?
Five months ago President Donald Trump caused a stir when he claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin - who is responsible for the invasion of Ukraine - wanted peace in Ukraine. "I think he wants peace," said Trump and added: "I know him very well. Yes, I think he wants peace. I think he would tell me if he didn't see that. ... I trust him in this matter."
change in Trump's rhetoric
In the past few days, however, Trump has taken a fundamental course, especially on Tuesday. After several days of dissatisfaction with his latest phone call to Putin, he expressed at a cabinet meeting that the man, for whom he had campaigned for years and whose criticism he largely avoided, may not be a reliable negotiating partner. "We get a lot of bullshit from Putin if you want to know the truth," said Trump. "He is always very nice, but it turns out that it is meaningless."Trump's new position on Ukraine
It is not the only sign that Trump retires his attitude - or at least his rhetoric - to the war in Ukraine. This week he lifted a short break at the arms deliveries to Ukraine and indicated that this decision was made by others in his government. For the time being, he has largely given up to blame both sides for the war after he has almost always combined every criticism of Russia with one on Ukraine. On Tuesday, he praised the "courage" of the Ukrainian fighters without notice and indicated that the massive investment of the United States in the defense of Ukraine is not the failure that many believe in its Maga base.
Trump's strategy and possible changes
What really happens here? It would be premature to say that Trump Putin turned his back on and has stuck to the side of Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly signaled in the past ten years that he enjoys appearing unpredictable on the international stage. And despite his strong words for Putin and the feedback from her conversations, Trump has not suggested that he put direct pressure on him to achieve an armistice or to calibrate retaliation for Ukrainian attacks.
It is quite possible that Trump, with his recent public comments, tries to put pressure on Putin instead of signaling a clear shift in his government's politics. It was particularly striking that the American President rejected a commitment to a new sanction package against Russia on Tuesday, which is supported by more than two thirds of the senators of both parties. If Trump had actually completed Putin, this option would be open to him, but he doesn't seem to be ready to take this step.
The pressure on Trump grows
Maybe he could pursue this strategy and return to a milder approach. But a sharp criticism of Putin is also an ace that Trump plays extremely reluctantly. The only other time when he went, shortly after Russia's invasion, was to Ukraine in 2022 when Trump described the invasion as "outrageous". But that seemed more to be a politically motivated course correction after he was criticized for his hymns of praise for Putin's "genius" during the invasion. He briefly addressed the condemnation of the invasion and then went back to his gentle treatment of the Russian President.
Future view and hypothetical scenarios
The question that arises is whether Trump's change will be long or pass as quickly as the previous one. Possibly. But there are signs that this is not the case. The president could gradually realize that his goals in Ukraine are incompatible with Putin's goals. For Trump, the focus is always on "winning" - in this case the peace agreement, which he promised on the first day of his presidency but did not come about. It seems as if he thought little about what this peace agreement looks like and demanded great concessions from Ukraine.
Putin, on the other hand, has hardly shown any signs of being seriously interested in a deal that contains more than just full control over Ukraine. Trump's comments on Tuesday were not only hard opposite Putin; They seem to reflect a deeper frustration that his Russian counterpart could hold him. Perhaps Trump actually believed in his negotiating skills and feels that Putin kept him a fool.
The spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, Tammy Bruce, was asked on Tuesday how to reconcile Trump's comments from February with his recent statements, and she indicated that Trump was actually reacting to new conditions. "He is an open person, but not naive," said Bruce. "He has principles and is clear in what he wants to achieve. We see that."
It can be understood that Trump comes to this knowledge - albeit late - after the events of the past week. Shortly after his call to Putin, Russia carried out his biggest drone attack on Ukraine. And nobody should underestimate the role of pride and domestic factors in all of this. Trump gave Putin more trust than almost every other western guide. He refused to give moral judgments about a ruler, whose tactics and power consolidation apparently admire.
but to hit the page in the Ukraine conflict is not just a moral decision; It's also about realpolitik. Perhaps this important calculating consideration for Trump will also change.
Only time will show in which direction things are developing.
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