Why Trump Is Appeasing Putin… And Why He’s Wrong For It – It’s hard, albeit not impossible, to understand why U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing a new, cozier relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has bucked the trend in the West’s handling of the Russian leader who, in some form or another, has been in charge since the turn of the century. Where others have ostracized Putin, Trump has welcomed him onto American soil. From a purely middle-ground perspective, Washington under Trump has led global efforts to find a peace agreement.
Putin in May 2022 Looking Tough Creative Commons Image
Putin in October 2021 Creative Commons Photo
Nevertheless, it’s difficult to see how this latest approach can benefit European, or indeed global, peace.
The Last Ten Days
Tensions have been rising between the leaders of the U.S. and Ukraine over the past ten days after Trump announced a surprise deal to release Russian diesel onto the U.S. and global markets. The U.S. President has also publicly called for Zelensky to resign – a view shared by SpaceX founder and former Trump administration official Elon Musk.
Last week, SpaceX’s Starlink services were restricted to speeds of below 100mph, rendering Ukrainian drones effectively redundant against a Russian ballistic missile attack. Questions remain about who decided to limit the technology’s speed. The SpaceX founder said the technology affected was Starshield, which is designed specifically for government and military communications, rather than the commercial Starlink, adding that the Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, with decisions to limit speed or usage made “by the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS (President of the United States).”
Reports conflict over who pioneered the idea to limit Starshield in Ukraine. A Daily Telegraph report said Musk approached President Trump with the idea of slowing down the satellite service. Reuters, however, said the decision came from within the White House.
Rhetoric Ramps Up
Tensions continued to mount over the weekend, with Trump, who announced the suspension of fresh Russian sanctions on Friday, 16th October, once again lashing out at his Ukrainian counterpart in a Truth Social post.
He criticized him for continually attacking Russian diesel refineries, arguing that the Ukrainian leader “doesn’t care” about the impact of the strikes on global diesel supply while accusing him of not wanting to end the war amid ongoing financial support for Kyiv.
“He could have made a better deal two years ago than he can now. His country is in shambles, a large portion of his land is lost, his oceans and seas are gone, and his male population is low, wounded, and/or dead. I WANT THIS WAR END! [sic],” Trump concluded.
Why Trump Wants an End
In a way, the debate over who shut off Starshield, or whether lifting Russian sanctions will prolong the war, is somewhat irrelevant. What’s become clear is that President Trump, who campaigned two years ago to end the war within 24 hours of returning to the White House, is pursuing an end by any means necessary.
While his approach may look like cozying up to President Putin, it makes sense from a purely peace-seeking perspective. Ukraine heavily relies on U.S. support, including sanctions on Russia, and so perhaps less of a loving relationship between Washington and Kyiv is key to ending the war. Without some change in the status quo, a conflict that has become a stalemate will see neither side move from its polarized red lines.
Trump also has his own political considerations. The war he promised to end is still ongoing, and the cost-of-living issue is hampering his popularity domestically. With the midterms fast approaching, it’s little surprise that these drastic policies have come almost halfway through his second term.
It’s Still Wrong
There’s a myriad of reasons why Trump is wrong to pursue a closer relationship with the Kremlin, and why his rhetoric and demands of Zelensky to give up territory hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed defending is offensive to millions.
Perhaps the most obvious, however, is history. Almost a century ago, another man, once elected leader of a European nation, launched an invasion of a neighbor while the West pursued a policy of appeasement.
Comparing President Putin to Adolf Hitler may be cliché – the Russian leader has spent more time conquering the Donbas than Hitler spent conquering Europe – but there can be no conceivable conclusion that justifying unprompted invasions by permitting the concession of territory can be the best way forward for world peace.
About the Author: Shay Bottomley
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist. He has written for the Western Standard, Business Insider, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo.
