Marta Gichko10:25, 11.03.25

Now the American president does not hide the fact that he is playing along with Russia without a veiled policy of isolating the aggressor state.

US President Donald Trump’s latest statements regarding the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrate his indifference to the bloodshed. Moreover, they indicate a willingness not only not to stop the violence, but to escalate it, according to an article in The Atlantic.

Trump’s approach to the war has previously been one of veiled support for Russia under the guise of isolationist rhetoric. He has ostensibly condemned brutality and opposed American funding of foreign conflicts. But it has now become clear that his opposition to Ukrainian independence has nothing to do with saving U.S. resources—he simply wants a Russian victory.

Trump recently said he was “considering” ending temporary protections for Ukrainian refugees in the U.S. Even after Ukraine offered concessions on natural resources, he made it clear that was not enough. Trump is also pushing Volodymyr Zelensky to resign and hold elections, even though the incumbent Ukrainian president has 67% support and his main opponents oppose elections during wartime, according to NBC.

“I trust Putin”

Trump’s most telling move was to stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine. This decision did not save American money, but it gave Russia an advantage. It resulted in Russian attacks being unexpected, with dire consequences for Ukrainian civilians.

When asked if he was changing his mind about Putin after the escalation of violence, Trump responded: “I believe him… I think we’re doing very well with Russia. But now they’re bombing the hell out of Ukraine, and Ukraine is – frankly, it’s becoming more difficult for me to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have a trump card.”

At the same time, it was Trump who deprived Ukraine of its “trump cards” by leaving it without critical intelligence.

Asked whether Putin was taking advantage of the US decision, Trump effectively admitted that this was what he wanted: “I think he’s doing what anybody else would do… He wants to end it, and I think Ukraine wants to end it, but I don’t see it – it’s crazy, they’re taking a terrible punishment. I don’t quite understand it.”

Asked why he won’t help Ukraine with air defense, Trump replied: “Because I have to know they want to make a deal.”

“Good” Russia, “bad” Ukraine

The publication notes that Trump’s rhetoric clearly demonstrates a change in his position: now he is not just striving for “peace”, but openly calling Russia “good” and Ukraine “bad”. In his opinion, to end the war, the “bad guy” needs to be forced to suffer even greater losses.

Trump’s supporters are also picking up on this narrative. Elon Musk, for example, has begun calling for sanctions against Ukraine’s “oligarchs,” echoing Russian narratives that Ukraine is controlled by corrupt elites. This is part of a Russian information strategy aimed at undermining Ukrainian independence. Russia itself has a much more powerful oligarchic system, but Trump has repeatedly demonstrated indifference to corruption both in the United States and abroad.

Senator Mark Kelly recently wrote on social media: “Any deal must protect Ukraine’s security and cannot be a giveaway to Putin.” To which Musk responded: “You are a traitor,” implying that Ukraine is an enemy of the United States.

If such a position gains popularity among Trump supporters, there is every reason to believe that it will be formally enshrined in his future policies. The publication concluded:

“Trump inherited an American government that was trying to protect Ukrainian sovereignty. He quickly changed American policy. The American position has already crossed the line of neutrality. The new American goal is no longer just to end the war, but to end it on Putin’s terms. Asked on Fox News Sunday if he was comfortable with the possibility that his actions would threaten Ukraine’s survival, Trump replied flippantly: “It still might not survive.” That’s not just a prediction. That’s a goal.”

(c)UNIAN 2025