Trump Is Going ‘Art of the Deal’ on Ukraine War

Key Points and Summary on Trump’s Ukraine Strategy – President Trump’s sudden decision to send billions in new weapons to Ukraine is not about ensuring a Ukrainian victory, but a high-stakes leverage play designed to force Russia to the negotiating table.

-This strategy mirrors his past “art of the deal” tactics with China and North Korea, using the threat of military aid and crippling economic sanctions—in this case, 100% tariffs—as a coercive tool.

-The move represents a significant escalation and a pivot from his earlier, more conciliatory approach, aiming to break the battlefield stalemate by making the cost of continued war unbearable for Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s Ukraine Nightmare: A New ‘Art of the Deal’ with Bombs and Tariffs

President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement to provide billions of dollars in new weapons to Ukraine is a significant shift in his foreign policy strategy towards Russia and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The move, which sent shockwaves around the world, is less about Ukraine winning the war and more about forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, as the urgency is real, with Putin’s forces making incremental but steady gains on the battlefield.

What Is Trump Doing?

It is a strategy Trump has been using for some time in his approach to the war in Ukraine.

In particular, he has been using his leverage as President to force both sides into a more favorable position by using his position of strength as President to extract concessions from both sides. He has done this by making it clear that he will only work with those who are willing to make concessions and has done this in a way designed to force both sides into a position of weakness.

The result has been that Trump has been able to get both sides to make concessions that they would not otherwise have been willing to make.

Trade War and Ukraine War: Same Ideas? 

In many ways, Trump’s proposal to send weapons to Ukraine is similar to his trade war strategy, which he has used with China in the past. In both cases, he has used the threat of tariffs as a form of coercion to try to get the other side to make concessions.

The difference here is that, instead of tariffs, Trump is threatening to send weapons to Ukraine and warning of economic sanctions on Russia if the two sides do not reach an agreement within a certain timeframe.

The proposed 100% tariffs on all Russian imports are a clear signal that Trump is willing to use economic pressure as a tool to force both sides to make concessions and come to a negotiated settlement.

This is a strategy that Trump has used before, and it has worked in the past. For example, Trump has used this same strategy with North Korea, where he threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it did not denuclearize. The result was that North Korea agreed to denuclearize, and the U.S. has been able to maintain its alliance with South Korea. This is a clear example of how Trump has used leverage to get both sides to make concessions.

Bad Idea? 

Of course, there are those who will argue that this is a bad idea and that it will only make the situation worse. They will point to the fact that Trump has been threatening to send weapons to Ukraine for some time now and that he has not actually followed through on any of his threats. This is true, but it is also the case that Trump has been willing to use economic sanctions against both sides in the past, and it is likely that he will do so again in this case. The key difference is that this time, he is willing to use the full force of his power as President to make sure that both sides come to the table.

There are also those who will argue that this is a good idea and that it will lead to a more stable situation in Ukraine. These people will point to the fact that Trump has been successful in using leverage in the past and that this is just another example of him using his power as President to get both sides to make concessions. They will also argue that this is a better option than simply doing nothing and allowing the war to continue indefinitely.

This is a good point, but it is also the case that Trump has been willing to use military force in the past, and it is likely that he will do so again in this case. The key difference is that this time, he is willing to use the full force of his power as President to make sure that both sides come to the table. In this case, he is not just threatening to use military force, he is actually using it as a tool to try and get both sides to make concessions.

Will Trump’s Ukraine Gamble Work? 

In conclusion, Trump’s vision for U.S. foreign policy is one that is focused on using leverage to get both sides to make concessions. He has done this in the past with both North Korea and China, and he is likely to do so again in this case. Whether or not this will lead to a more stable situation in Ukraine remains to be seen, but it is clear that Trump is willing to use all the tools at his disposal to try and get both sides to come to the table.

Send more weapons to Ukraine: As Trump sees it, the longer this war goes on, the more likely it is that Russia will gain the upper hand and be able to use its military advantage to force Ukraine to make concessions. This is why he has been so aggressive in his threats to send weapons to Ukraine and why he is now finally following through on those threats.

Rebuild the military-industrial complex: One of the most essential elements of Trump’s vision for U.S. foreign policy is rebuilding the military-industrial complex. This is something that he has been working on for some time now, but is only now finally able to fully implement his plan. This is something that will have a significant impact on U.S. foreign policy in the years to come and something that should be closely watched.

In short, Trump’s vision for U.S. foreign policy is focused on using leverage to get both sides to make concessions. He has done this in the past with both North Korea and China, and he is likely to do so again in this case.

Whether or not this will lead to a more stable situation in Ukraine remains to be seen, but it is clear that Trump is willing to use all the tools at his disposal to try to get both sides to come to the table.

About the Author: Dr. Andrew Latham

Andrew Latham is a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities and a professor of international relations and political theory at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. You can follow him on X: @aakatham.

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