On the eve of the US-Russia presidential meeting in Alaska, the White House stated that Donald Trump does not wish to impose new sanctions on Russia and is instead relying on diplomacy. Vitaly Portnikov points out that this stance contradicts Trump’s earlier declarations about imposing harsh measures if Vladimir Putin does not end the war.
Previously, Trump issued an ultimatum to Putin, first allowing 50, then 10 days to halt military action. However, even after the deadline passed, no new sanctions were announced. Instead, a high-level meeting is being arranged after Trump’s special representative visited Moscow. Meanwhile, media reports continue to suggest the possibility of sanctions despite a lack of decisive action.
Currently, Trump has highlighted the meeting itself as a diplomatic victory, but it remains unclear how he plans to pressure the Kremlin without real sanctions. Sources close to the White House also note that Trump may offer economic cooperation with Moscow, while underestimating the ideological basis of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The analyst stresses that a shift in the situation is unlikely unless Moscow feels strong US pressure. The tone of the meeting between the leaders will be crucial, as Putin may seek to exploit Trump’s personality traits to Russia’s advantage.
Portnikov compares Trump’s and Biden’s approaches to sanctions: Biden took tougher measures, while Trump has not introduced major new sanctions and has even relaxed existing ones.
In conclusion, the article notes that Trump’s unwillingness to apply pressure enables Russia to continue its aggression. The policy of impunity encourages further Kremlin actions, and Trump’s reluctance to take firm steps effectively facilitates Russia’s goals.
