Short Form: Trump & Zelensky
Trump and Zelensky’s meeting on the 23rd September saw the American President take a u-turn on his stance on Ukraine. Trump, who earlier in February displayed disregard, or even a tinge of hostility, against the Ukrainian President and outward claimed that Ukraine “[did] not have the cards” to contend a ceasefire, has announced on Truth Social that “Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form”. The US President implied that his full knowledge of “the economic trouble [the war] is causing Russia” as the reason for his new stance.
The sudden change of tone comes shockingly since Trump and Putin’s meeting in Alaska in August, which Ukraine did not attend. Trump’s harsh label of the Russian military as a “paper tiger” and US-backed security guarantees for Ukraine post-war has bludgeoned Putin’s optimism for a Russian victory. And as Russia’s gains on the battlefield comes closer to stalemate, the fog of war and the ping-pong of the frontlines puts into question Russia’s longevity, especially under its economic circumstances.
As with expected Trump fashion, the President did not leave without some cheeky provocation or ‘ragebait’. Actively encouraging countries to “shoot down” Russian aircraft violating Nato airspace, the US president insinuated that Ukraine could retake Crimea, claiming that they could “take back their Country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!”. An act likely to intentionally draw attention to Putin. Though Trump risks escalation and ruining his long-time relationship with the Russian autocrat, we can speculate that he is likely attempting to pressure or embarrass Putin into a ceasefire. Putin’s reaction to Trump’s provocations are far less certain and indeed, may yield less promising results.
