Donald Trump, never dirty from a cliffhanger, announced last week that he will come up with a “an important explanation about Russia” this Monday. It has been buzzing in Washington for a while that the US president would still be willing to provide extra material and diplomatic support to Ukraine. Not for strategic considerations or sympathy for that attacked country, but out of frustration with Vladimir Putin.
The Russian president has been on the line since his inauguration. “Bullshit,” Trump ruled about what he was told by Putin in their certainly six telephone conversations this year. “He is always very nice, but it all turns out to mean nothing.”
During the election campaign, Trump promised that he would “solve the war in Ukraine within a day.” Thinking that the friendship bond he felt in his first term would be enough to poke the dictator with Putin to stop his violence. In the first months since Trump’s return to the White House, he seemed to agree with all the territorial wishes of Russia. Volodyymyr Zensky was treated extremely hostile.
Under the Trump government there were no new auxiliary packages on Ukraine. The United States became fickle in supplying still current bides from the Biden-time and sharing military intelligence. In the meantime, Putin did not shrink. He is not prepared for any serious negotiations and bombards more and more Ukrainian citizens, with drones and bombing.
Rutte in Washington
For Trump the size seems full – at the moment. He wants to “send more weapons,” he said last week, because Ukraine “must be able to defend himself.” But the president consciously remains vague about what that means. Probably more with a view to his own supporters than on the negotiating table where he wants to make Putin and Zensky sit down.
In any case, there seems to be a NATO plan on the hands, picks up during the top in The Hague. European countries would buy American weaponry, such as Patriot airwear, and donate that to Ukraine. “We send weapons to NATO, and NATO pays the full 100 percent for those weapons,” Trump told channel NBC on Thursday, probably referring to the European member states. In this way the US earns the defense of Ukraine instead of spending. NATO boss Mark Rutte is coming to Washington on Monday, probably to watch this.
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Europe and Trump are approaching each other about heavy sanctions against Moscow
New economic sanctions against Russia would also be coming. Senator Lindsey Graham argued this weekend in American media for “a smoker stroke” of punitive measures against Russia and against countries that support the Russian economy with their import of gas, oil and uranium. Is there a momentum for an actual twist?
Supporters
For Trump, the struggle between the hawks and isolationists in his own cabinet and supporters is certainly as important as the war on the eastern border of NATO. The Senate dominated by Republicans continues to argue for military aid for Ukraine and further insulation of Russia. Now that Senators have shown Trump their loyalty with their voice for his large budget and tax law, he can reward them by embracing their initiative for sanctions. For the time being, the Trump government has with the argument that it puts itself offside as a moderator of possible peace negotiations. But Trump now recognizes that Putin refuses to feed it.
With renewed support for Ukraine, Trump would collide for the third time in a short time with his most fanatic supporters. Fundamentalist Make America Great Again (Maga) adepts – including his own vice president JD Vance and Defense Minister Pete Hegseeth – feel little for help with which Ukraine can continue the battle for its survival.
And it is precisely the isolationist, plot -driven wing of the Republican party that has already been angry about the American bombing in Iran and the conclusion of the legal investigation into the death of pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. These are not voters who are in danger of switching to the Democrats, but they do overshadowed Influencers who can overshadow Trumps success in the field of immigration online.
Trump can afford such mutiny. He does not have to be re -elected again, but he has to continue with the congress that has to support his plans for 3.5 years. And although Trump Hegseeth always praises publicly, the Minister of Defense seems to have surprised the president unpleasantly with the recent suspension of current help to Ukraine. The Pentagon would have stopped it without consulting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the White House.
When asked about who was responsible for the sticking of the deliveries, Trump came with an incomprehensible answer on Wednesday. “I would know. If a decision was made, I will know. I will be the first to know. In fact, I would probably give the order, but I haven’t done that yet.”
Whatever is announced on Monday to measures for Ukraine or against Russia, it may not seem to be whether Trump dances to the pipes of Zensky, his ear is hanging at the Senate or Hegseeth makes the service. And although there is a NATO deal, that does not mean that European allies find Trump on their side. On Sunday, the president again announced import duties of 30 percent for EU products.