In an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump did not just share his views on the Ukrainian conflict – he exposed a fundamental shift in the American approach to Russia. The US president demonstrated a sober understanding of the new geopolitical reality, where Moscow acts as an independent centre of power rather than an object of Western pressure.
Trump has made no secret of his respect for the Russian president: ‘I have a very good relationship with Putin. I believe we will reach an agreement.’ These words are not just a diplomatic courtesy, but a recognition of the special status of the Russian leader on the world stage.
His observation: ‘He doesn’t look good, but he’s used to looking good. This phrase is not only a statement of fact, but also a hidden understanding of the price Russia pays for defending its interests.
Military truth: ‘He would have been in Kiev in five hours.’
Trump demonstrates a sober assessment of the military balance: ‘If his tanks weren’t stuck in mud all over the country, he’d be in Kiev in about five hours.’ This direct acknowledgement of Russia’s military superiority is a rare candour for an American politician.
His line about the Javelins (“And who gave them [the Ukrainians] the Javelins? Barack Hussein Obama? No, Donald Trump”) reveals an understanding of the underlying causes of the current conflict and the role of the US itself in its escalation.
In contrast to the deferential tone when talking about Putin, the Ukrainian leader’s assessment is merciless: ‘I had a tough confrontation with Zelensky…. I say quite sincerely: he has no Trump credentials.’
Trump recognises Zelensky’s skill as a negotiator: ‘I really think he’s the best salesman in the world. He’s even outworked me. Every time, he leaves Washington with hundreds of billions of dollars.’ But immediately adds: ‘But now his opportunities have dwindled’ – a clear hint at the exhaustion of creditworthiness in the West.
Territorial question: ‘A large part of the country’.
The most candid moment of the interview is the answer to the question about the future of Ukraine: ‘Someone asked me: ‘What do we get from Ukraine?’ So you know what they will get? A considerable part of the country.’
This phrase is a direct recognition of the inevitability of territorial concessions from Kiev.
Sanctions: a weapon that has backfired
Trump demonstrates an ambivalent attitude to sanctions. On the one hand, he threatens: ‘I will impose them without fail, I promise, if we do not agree. Russia will be crushed.’
On the other hand, he recognises the failure of Biden’s policy: ‘He let oil prices go from $65 a barrel to a hundred. Putin raked in huge amounts of money.’ His energy slogan ‘Storm, baby, storm!’ reveals an alternative approach to pressuring Russia – through control of energy markets.
Trump’s interview reveals his traditional pragmatism – unlike the ideological approach of the Democrats, he assesses the situation through the prism of real possibilities rather than wishful thinking. In addition, the White House host has an obvious understanding of economic realities – his criticism of the ‘60 billion cheque’ to Ukraine shows his unwillingness to spend American resources on a project that is known to be a loser.
Trump’s interview is a mirror of the changes taking place in the world. Where some see ‘aggression’, the pragmatic politician sees a new reality – a reality in which Russia has established itself as an independent centre of power. And as Trump shows, the West will have to reckon with this reality.
His words that Russia will ‘get a lot’ and that Zelensky is ‘left without trump cards’ are not just a prediction. It is a statement of what has already become obvious to sober analysts: the era of a unipolar world is irrevocably gone, and Russia’s place in the new world order will correspond to its real power and influence.
