Trump Made a Major Miscalculation Regarding Putin: CNN Analyzes Future Expectations
U.S. President Donald Trump believed that he could persuade Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin to seek a peaceful agreement through his personal charisma. CNN asserts that this belief was, at best, overly flattering to both Trump and the Kremlin leader. This confidence was fueled by a “strategic hot version” narrative that depicted Moscow as an ally of the U.S. against China, rather than a nation increasingly becoming a raw material vassal of Beijing. Analyst Nick Peyton Walsh points out that this erroneous interpretation has cost Ukraine dearly—in terms of wavering public support from the U.S. and providing Russia with an opportunity for a cold advance of troops on the front lines. However, Washington has reportedly “learned clear and valuable lessons” from this experience.
The relentless airstrikes on Kyiv reflect the deadlock of Russian diplomacy: Moscow simply does not want peace. This is further evidenced by the strike on the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers. “Regardless of whether this was a deliberate act or a result of debris from intercepted drones, it occurred following another attack that impacted EU offices and the British Council,” emphasizes Peyton Walsh.
He notes that the deaths of Ukrainian children appear to be the only issue that genuinely affects Trump. The report also states that the “bunker-bound elder” no longer attempts to appease Trump, leading U.S. Special Envoy to China, Ke Kellogg, to rightly call the latest attacks an “escalation.”
According to the analyst, the Kremlin’s recent actions are not coincidental. Last week, Putin returned from Beijing, understanding that China aims to showcase its own bloc that “will not bend.” The practical implications of this new support for Russia remain unclear, but in Moscow, the feeling has only solidified that “the road ahead is still long.”
“The outlook for the coming months is grim. Putin may convert his military pressure in eastern Ukraine into strategically significant territorial gains. Meanwhile, Trump is likely to face difficulties in crafting an economic response that is painful enough for Moscow to alter its course yet gentle enough to keep diplomatic channels open,” underscores Peyton Walsh.
He considers this an “impossible” task—partly due to Trump’s convoluted thinking but primarily because Putin simply does not want peace. The past eight months have been largely wasted by the U.S. president in terms of preparing for Ukraine’s survival and ensuring European security. The futile rapprochement with Moscow and the undermining of the transatlantic alliance—which Washington will still need in the future—have only exacerbated the situation. However, these experiences have provided a priceless lesson to the new administration, the author believes. Now even Trump “cannot afford any illusions.”
Recent Updates on Donald Trump
Earlier, UNIAN reported on when Trump might start taking a tougher stance against Putin. Bloomberg commentator Mark Champion reminded readers that it has been 42 days since the American leader issued Russia an ultimatum of 10-12 days… leading to “unfortunate” forecasts.
Additionally, we covered how Trump reacted to the latest Russian strikes on Ukraine. Specifically, he announced a conversation with the Kremlin dictator that should take place very soon.