For years, US President Donald Trump promised that he alone could end the devastating war in Ukraine in just "24 hours." Now, after six months in office, Trump finds himself confronting an embarrassing reality: Vladimir Putin isn't playing along.
TL;DR: Driving the news
Trump’s sudden, forceful change on Russia highlights how Putin has repeatedly humiliated the US president, exploiting Trump’s desire for personal diplomacy by escalating violence whenever Trump attempted peace talks.
Initially confident he could quickly end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II within 24 hours, Trump is now being forced into a far more aggressive stance by domestic political pressures and his own bruised ego.
Putin’s continued military escalation not only embarrassed Trump publicly but also eroded his political standing domestically, leaving him vulnerable to criticism from both sides of the aisle, as the conflict drags into its fourth brutal year.
As a White House official told the Atlantic, Trump now privately admits Putin has made him look like “the junior partner.”
This reversal isn’t a new Trump doctrine. As Jonathan Lemire noted in the Atlantic, Trump hasn’t suddenly embraced transatlantic unity or Kyiv’s cause. Rather, Trump “got insulted”-and now he’s lashing out. For Putin, who often views geopolitics as a game of personal dominance, embarrassing Trump seems a strategic success.
Senator Lindsey Graham captured Trump’s humiliation starkly. “One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump,” Graham told CBS’ 'Face the Nation'.
Zoom in: Humiliation by missiles
Trump entered office determined to leverage his supposed personal rapport with Putin to swiftly end the Ukraine war. But his repeated diplomatic failures have dramatically undermined Trump’s credibility.
Early in his second term, Trump courted controversy by publicly berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , accusing Ukraine’s leader of prolonging the war and labeling him a “dictator without elections". Trump even briefly halted US intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, fueling speculation he intended to abandon Kyiv to secure peace with Moscow.
But Putin took advantage of Trump’s eagerness for a ceasefire, publicly agreeing to talks while privately ramping up missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. The more Trump publicly pleaded for peace, the more aggressively Putin attacked, creating a humiliating cycle Trump himself acknowledged:
“My conversations with [Putin] are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night,” Trump admitted, visibly frustrated in the Oval Office. “The talk doesn’t mean anything.”
Perhaps the sharpest sting to Trump’s ego came closer to home, from First Lady Melania Trump. She challenged Trump’s naive optimism, reminding him of the harsh reality on the ground. "I go home, I tell the First Lady, 'you know, I spoke to Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation,'" Trump recounted. "And she said, 'Oh really? Another city was just hit.'"
Trump’s frustration with Putin’s continued defiance has become impossible to conceal. Publicly, he’s begun to openly doubt Putin’s sincerity. In recent weeks, Trump accused the Russian leader of giving him "a lot of bullshit" and said that Putin has "gone absolutely crazy." Even Trump, known for publicly flattering autocrats, admitted grudgingly, "I don't want to say he's an assassin, but he's a tough guy."
It’s a stark shift from a man who, months ago, praised Putin’s "strength" and openly criticized Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy as an ungrateful partner prolonging the war.
Putin's calculated indifference
The Kremlin’s brazen disrespect has left Trump politically cornered. Nato leaders, already wary of Trump after earlier threats-including his suggestion that Russia might legitimately attack a Nato ally for failing to meet military spending goals-are increasingly skeptical of his reliability, according to an Axios report.
Trump’s own Republican allies, previously supportive or at least tolerant of his conciliatory approach, now find themselves forced to defend his dramatic reversal. Notably, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) downplayed Trump's aggressive rhetoric by saying he didn’t believe Trump “honestly believes” his harsher statements, suggesting again that Trump should be taken “seriously but not literally.”
Yet these justifications do little to conceal the political humiliation Putin has inflicted on Trump, making him appear reactive and weak-a liability heading into upcoming midterm elections.
Meanwhile, European allies, weary from years of Trump’s transactional diplomacy, privately express skepticism about Trump’s reliability. Estonia’s Kaja Kallas called Trump’s 50-day sanctions deadline “too far into the future” given ongoing Russian violence against civilians. Even Ukraine’s frontline soldiers, though relieved, question Trump’s sincerity. “Better late than never,” remarked a 29-year-old Ukrainian fighter known as Grizzly to AFP, capturing the mood of cautious optimism mixed with lingering doubt.
In Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised a “decisive role” for Germany in aiding Ukraine but carefully avoided endorsing Trump’s diplomatic strategy. The underlying message is clear: European leaders will welcome the weapons, but few trust Trump’s commitment, let alone his ability to deliver lasting peace.
What they're saying: 'Russia will cope'
Trump faces a critical test: follow through aggressively on his threats if Putin defies him again, or retreat and lose any remaining global credibility. The looming sanctions deadline aligns almost exactly with the end of Russia’s summer military campaign, potentially enabling Putin to seize more Ukrainian territory before negotiations even begin.
Europe, meanwhile, remains wary of Trump’s reliability, quietly preparing contingencies should Trump once again shift his position abruptly. Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos underscored Europe’s caution:
“Do I think Trump is now pro-Ukraine? Please. Not at all,” Polymeropoulos told the Atlantic. “Europe needs to still plan with the idea that the US is not a reliable ally, because Trump can still change his mind.”
(With inputs from agencies)
TL;DR: Driving the news
- In an about-turn, Trump delivered an ultimatum to Russia on Monday, demanding Putin end his war on Ukraine within 50 days or face massive economic sanctions and a wave of new weapons flowing into Kyiv.
- Trump’s announcement, a stark policy shift after months of friendly outreach and failed diplomacy, included the threat of unprecedented "secondary tariffs" targeting Russia's trading partners, notably China and India, who continue buying Russian oil.
- Flanked by Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump openly expressed his frustration with Putin:
- “We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100 percent,” Trump said, adding that he was “very, very unhappy” with the Russian leader’s refusal to negotiate seriously.
- This tough public stance follows weeks of private humiliation, as Putin repeatedly ignored Trump’s requests to halt missile strikes on Ukraine even after pleasant personal conversations, according to a report in the Atlantic.
Trump’s sudden, forceful change on Russia highlights how Putin has repeatedly humiliated the US president, exploiting Trump’s desire for personal diplomacy by escalating violence whenever Trump attempted peace talks.
Initially confident he could quickly end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II within 24 hours, Trump is now being forced into a far more aggressive stance by domestic political pressures and his own bruised ego.
Putin’s continued military escalation not only embarrassed Trump publicly but also eroded his political standing domestically, leaving him vulnerable to criticism from both sides of the aisle, as the conflict drags into its fourth brutal year.
As a White House official told the Atlantic, Trump now privately admits Putin has made him look like “the junior partner.”
This reversal isn’t a new Trump doctrine. As Jonathan Lemire noted in the Atlantic, Trump hasn’t suddenly embraced transatlantic unity or Kyiv’s cause. Rather, Trump “got insulted”-and now he’s lashing out. For Putin, who often views geopolitics as a game of personal dominance, embarrassing Trump seems a strategic success.
Senator Lindsey Graham captured Trump’s humiliation starkly. “One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump,” Graham told CBS’ 'Face the Nation'.
Zoom in: Humiliation by missiles
Trump entered office determined to leverage his supposed personal rapport with Putin to swiftly end the Ukraine war. But his repeated diplomatic failures have dramatically undermined Trump’s credibility.
Early in his second term, Trump courted controversy by publicly berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , accusing Ukraine’s leader of prolonging the war and labeling him a “dictator without elections". Trump even briefly halted US intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, fueling speculation he intended to abandon Kyiv to secure peace with Moscow.
But Putin took advantage of Trump’s eagerness for a ceasefire, publicly agreeing to talks while privately ramping up missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. The more Trump publicly pleaded for peace, the more aggressively Putin attacked, creating a humiliating cycle Trump himself acknowledged:
“My conversations with [Putin] are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night,” Trump admitted, visibly frustrated in the Oval Office. “The talk doesn’t mean anything.”
Perhaps the sharpest sting to Trump’s ego came closer to home, from First Lady Melania Trump. She challenged Trump’s naive optimism, reminding him of the harsh reality on the ground. "I go home, I tell the First Lady, 'you know, I spoke to Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation,'" Trump recounted. "And she said, 'Oh really? Another city was just hit.'"
Trump’s frustration with Putin’s continued defiance has become impossible to conceal. Publicly, he’s begun to openly doubt Putin’s sincerity. In recent weeks, Trump accused the Russian leader of giving him "a lot of bullshit" and said that Putin has "gone absolutely crazy." Even Trump, known for publicly flattering autocrats, admitted grudgingly, "I don't want to say he's an assassin, but he's a tough guy."
It’s a stark shift from a man who, months ago, praised Putin’s "strength" and openly criticized Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy as an ungrateful partner prolonging the war.
Putin's calculated indifference
- For Putin, the calculations have been coldly rational. US intelligence officials concluded long ago that Putin believes time is on his side-that Western unity will fracture and that Trump’s patience would eventually break, yielding a favorable deal for Russia.
- That strategy has worked perfectly so far. Trump's delays in military support to Ukraine, including a pause on arms shipments, emboldened Russia’s military offensives. Putin, rather than negotiating, intensified attacks, gambling correctly that Trump would hesitate to impose costly sanctions that could harm global economic stability or strain relations with key trading partners, like China and India.
- Russia’s indifference to Trump's threats is further reinforced by Trump’s tendency to avoid follow-through. In past trade battles-such as his notorious tariff threats against China-Trump frequently set dramatic deadlines he later ignored. Investors noticed: Russian markets rallied after Trump's announcement, signaling relief at the 50-day grace period, effectively calling his bluff.
The Kremlin’s brazen disrespect has left Trump politically cornered. Nato leaders, already wary of Trump after earlier threats-including his suggestion that Russia might legitimately attack a Nato ally for failing to meet military spending goals-are increasingly skeptical of his reliability, according to an Axios report.
Trump’s own Republican allies, previously supportive or at least tolerant of his conciliatory approach, now find themselves forced to defend his dramatic reversal. Notably, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) downplayed Trump's aggressive rhetoric by saying he didn’t believe Trump “honestly believes” his harsher statements, suggesting again that Trump should be taken “seriously but not literally.”
Yet these justifications do little to conceal the political humiliation Putin has inflicted on Trump, making him appear reactive and weak-a liability heading into upcoming midterm elections.
Meanwhile, European allies, weary from years of Trump’s transactional diplomacy, privately express skepticism about Trump’s reliability. Estonia’s Kaja Kallas called Trump’s 50-day sanctions deadline “too far into the future” given ongoing Russian violence against civilians. Even Ukraine’s frontline soldiers, though relieved, question Trump’s sincerity. “Better late than never,” remarked a 29-year-old Ukrainian fighter known as Grizzly to AFP, capturing the mood of cautious optimism mixed with lingering doubt.
In Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised a “decisive role” for Germany in aiding Ukraine but carefully avoided endorsing Trump’s diplomatic strategy. The underlying message is clear: European leaders will welcome the weapons, but few trust Trump’s commitment, let alone his ability to deliver lasting peace.
What they're saying: 'Russia will cope'
- Putin and Russia’s political elite openly mocked Trump’s ultimatum. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, known as a Putin loyalist, dismissed Trump’s sanctions threat as “theatrical,” adding pointedly on social media:
- “The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care.”
- Russia seeks to understand what prompted Trump's statement that Russia must reach a peace deal in Ukraine within 50 days, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said.
- “Earlier, there were also the deadlines of 24 hours and of 100 days,” Lavrov said during an official trip to China. “We’ve seen it all and really would like to understand the motivation of the US president."
- Speaking at a press conference during the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization foreign ministers meeting in Tianjin, China, Lavrov said he had "no doubt that Russia will cope with any new sanctions."
- Even as Trump attempted to regain the initiative by supplying Ukraine with billions in weaponry-including as many as 17 Patriot missile batteries through Nato-Russian lawmakers scoffed that Trump’s new stance primarily benefited “the US military-industrial complex,” rather than Ukraine.
- Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, however, greeted Trump’s renewed support cautiously but optimistically:
- “We hope for the leadership of the United States, because it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its ambitions are stopped by force,” Zelenskyy told Telegram followers.
- The move was also cautiously praised by Senate Democrats, who nonetheless criticized Trump’s previous softness toward Putin. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) welcomed Trump's weapons initiative but emphasized Putin’s longstanding manipulation of the president’s personal overtures:
- “Today’s decision...will save countless Ukrainian lives from Putin’s horrific assault,” Shaheen said, implicitly underscoring Trump’s belated change.
- Evelyn Farkas, a former senior Pentagon official now leading the McCain Institute, told Bloomberg that while Trump’s belated policy shift could alter battlefield dynamics if vigorously enforced, the president’s track record doesn’t inspire confidence. "If Putin’s generals believe the war isn’t winnable, maybe they'll push Putin to negotiate," she explained, "but Trump’s reliability remains questionable."
Trump faces a critical test: follow through aggressively on his threats if Putin defies him again, or retreat and lose any remaining global credibility. The looming sanctions deadline aligns almost exactly with the end of Russia’s summer military campaign, potentially enabling Putin to seize more Ukrainian territory before negotiations even begin.
Europe, meanwhile, remains wary of Trump’s reliability, quietly preparing contingencies should Trump once again shift his position abruptly. Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos underscored Europe’s caution:
“Do I think Trump is now pro-Ukraine? Please. Not at all,” Polymeropoulos told the Atlantic. “Europe needs to still plan with the idea that the US is not a reliable ally, because Trump can still change his mind.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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