After all, Donald Trump just had a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This productive discussion has created a much-needed dialogue about Trump’s future role in the still-ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. Throughout this discourse, Donald Trump was focused on a strong key point – a direct discussion between Ukraine and Russia. He thinks it’s under both countries’ hands to make a decision and solve their frictions.
The long distance call took place at a beautiful, bustling music school on the Sochi coast. It’s a beautiful backdrop that reminds us of the cultural ties that tend to get swallowed up in rancorous political divides. After the discussion, Trump appeared to backtrack on the fight. He suggested that he thinks he already has the latitude to dictate how much he engages in global affairs.
Putin exhibited a different narrative. In a nationwide press conference with journalists, he doubled down on his decision not to declare war. Once again he advanced the Kremlin’s ludicrous narrative that NATO’s accelerated expansion caused the war to start. This claim is indicative of his historical use of excuses for military escalation within Ukraine. Fundamentally, he wants to take away our public lands, cloaking his motives in arguments about national security worries.
That conversation comes with a monumental context. It emphasizes Russia’s chilling show of military strength at the recent Victory Day parade in Moscow. Both Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended this event, which showcased Russia’s strength and served as a reminder of its global ambitions. The parade emphasizes Putin’s desire to project power, even as the international community grapples with the implications of his actions.
Trump’s comments during and after the call suggest that he may not be entirely out of the diplomatic process regarding Ukraine. His declaration urges an immediate resumption of direct negotiations between the two nations. This does indicate he is willing to play ball on the crisis, with far more prudence than in prior years. If so, it would represent a significant strategic pivot for him, if he were to make it back into the White House.
Ironically, Trump has been more hawkish on Russia than his successor, Joe Biden. This would be significant enough, even in light of today’s geopolitical tensions, for the United States to potentially reverse course on its military engagement in the conflict. The possibility of pulling back from both diplomatic engagements and aid to Ukraine looms large unless Russia takes verifiable steps towards establishing peace.
As Trump navigates his potential return to political prominence, his approach toward Putin remains a critical aspect of his foreign policy stance. He insists on direct talks between Ukraine and Russia. In doing so, he makes himself the natural mediator, appealing to the segment of voters that craves diplomacy rather than military prioritization.
