From: New Voice of Ukraine by Alex Stezhensky
Two foreign leaders have proven more vexing for U.S. President Donald Trump than he had anticipated: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. But it’s Putin whose relationship with Trump has undergone the most striking shift, The Hill reported on Aug. 3.
The publication analyzed which global leaders have most complicated Trump’s foreign policy calculus. The article notes that both Netanyahu and Putin have caused suffering — to Palestinians and Ukrainians, respectively — while stubbornly refusing to change course.
The shift in tone toward Putin has been especially notable. Trump recently announced that he had ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia in response to provocative remarks by Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev.
This marks a sharp contrast from late February, when Trump and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a White House meeting, accusing him of ingratitude for American aid, The Hill writes.
The reason for Trump’s shift in tone is clear, the author argues: Trump wants the war to end — and Putin clearly doesn’t.
What particularly frustrates Trump, according to the article, is the Russian dictator’s ability to speak “constructively and cordially” by phone, only to unleash brutal attacks on Ukraine hours later.
The author suggests that Trump’s irritation may stem partly from political pressure. The Kremlin’s intransigence has undermined Trump’s campaign promise to end the war within “24 hours” — a claim that now appears hollow, with no breakthrough in sight.
Still, it’s highly unlikely Trump will drop his skepticism toward continued U.S. aid to Kyiv. As a result, he finds himself in an uncomfortable position: unable to end the war, and unable to shift its momentum in Ukraine’s favor, the article concludes.
Voice of Ukraine 