There is a striking disconnect between what Trump is saying and what he is doing — and every time, Trump does not match his rhetorical bellicosity with any actual action or pressure on Putin, as Putin continues unabated.
Is Putin playing Trump, promising progress in a peace deal which will never come to buy more time to batter Ukraine? Or is Trump playing us, dangling vague assurances while letting Putin get away with it?
Despite Trump’s tough talk, he constantly fails to match his rhetorical bluster with genuine action to squeeze Putin. Trump, who normally enjoys creating maximum leverage for himself, seems bizarrely unwilling or unable to challenge Putin beyond verbal wordplay. Where are the “severe consequences” against Putin that Trump has often threatened, but never implemented?
It’s not too late to change that — if things continue at this rate, it will be hard to say whether Putin is playing Trump, or Trump is playing us. Either way, the U.S., the EU, and Ukraine are all worse off under Trump’s confusing cowardice.
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