LOS ANGELES.–Frustrated by the lack of progress on a ceasefire or peace deal, 78-year-old President Donald Trump lashed out publicly at 72-year-old President Vladimir Putin. “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump wrote on Sunday night on Truth Social. Trump was referring to Sunday’s major drone and missile strike on Ukraine causing 12 civilian casualties. Trump has been working feverishly to deliver one of his main campaign promises to end the Ukraine War. Trump never imagined that he would get most of his resistance from Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky who has fought him on any settlement that would trade land-for-peace. Zelensky ran to the European Union, denounced Trump, thinking he would get a better ceasfire or peace deal with the EU.
Trump has worked feverishly with his envoy Steve Witkoff to get a clear idea of what Putin wants to secure and ceasefire and peace deal. Witkoff has met with Putin four times, graciously received at the Kremlin, holding constructive talks with Putin. Trump had the best idea what it would take to end the over three-year conflict that has decimated Ukraine’s infrastructure, killed thousands, exiled millions and lost 20-25% of Ukraine’s best sovereign territory. Trump assessment is clear, Ukraine must cut its losses and trade land-for-peace to begin the process of reconstructing the country. Yet Zelensky has rejected Trump’s peace plans, accusing him of giving too much away to Putin. “I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,” Trump told reporters, making instant headlines. Trump rarely says anything negative about Putin, working to bring about peace.
Trump’s comments were taken well by the Kremlin that was obligated to respond to Trump’s harsh remarks. “We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process,” said chief Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Trump responded harshly to Putin’s recent drone and missile strikes all over Ukraine, raining projectiles down on Kiev and other major cities. Whether Trump accepts it or not, Putin is trying to bring an end to the conflict by hitting Ukraine hard, letting Zelensky know that it’s in Ukraine’s interests to make peace with Russia. Trump went a little overboard criticizing Putin, knowing that he wants peace, but doesn’t like recent developments with the EU slapping the Kremlin with more economic sanctions. Putin’s military response was an attempt to get through to Zelensky.
Zelensky has taken the position that Trump peace proposals run counter to the EU that takes a much tougher position with Putin, demanding that he pull all his troops out of Ukraine. Zelensky likes what he’s told by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. EU officials have taken a strong position with Putin because several of their member states, including Poland and the Baltic States fear that Putin would move on from Ukraine to take over more EU countries. EU officials have no facts to make those accusations, only repeating Zelensky’s propaganda that Russia threatens European democracy. Zelensky tries to advocate that Ukraine protects European democracy battling the Kremlin, but knows the idea is preposterous. Ukraine can’t defend its own territory, certainly not anywhere in Europe.
Trump’s public remarks stunned the fake news because they often criticize Trump for taking Putin’s side of the conflict. Trump was asked by ABC News David Muir in his June 27, 2024 debate who he would like to see win the Ukraine War. Trump has batted away such defamatory comments about his relationship with Putin and other authoritarian rulers, accusing Trump of being a dictator himself. Trump, of course, wants to end the Ukraine War not on Zelensky or Putin’s terms but finding some common ground for a peace deal. With the EU meddling in the peace process, it’s no wonder Trump is frustrated by the war continuing without any end in sight. But if Trump understands Putin’s mentality, he wants Zelensky to know that he should take the peace process seriously and stop making unrealistic demands. Trump criticized Zelensky for shooting off his mouth.
Zelensky doesn’t hesitate at all in calling Putin a terrorist and war criminal for his role in the Ukraine War. But Zelensky should know that it takes two to tango, certainly when it came to Kiev taking unlimited cash-and-arms on the Russian border. Putin told former President Joe Biden and Zelensky that if the cash-and-arms kept flowing into Kiev, he would be forced to take a “special military operation” in the run-up to the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion. Biden ignored all of Putin’s requests to discuss new security arrangements for Ukraine in the run-up to war. Trump finds himself in the unenviable position of brokering a pragmatic ceasefire and peace deal, while dealing with Zelensky and the EU that look poised to keep fighting. EU could be bluffing about funding proxy war with the Kremlin but they give no sign of understanding what it would take to bring about a ceasefire and peace deal.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.