Trump’s โคPost-Summit Approach Draws International Criticism as Putin Pursues Ukraine Goals
WASHINGTON – Following hisโ recent summit with Vladimir Putin,former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach is facing mounting criticism from allies and mockery from Moscow,as Russia continues โtoo advance its objectives in Ukraine. Observers acrossโ the political spectrum are questioning Trump’s influence on the international stage, with concerns โฃgrowing that his rhetoric is not deterring Putin’s aggression and may even be emboldening it. Theโค situation raises important questions about the potential for renewed U.S. leadership in addressing โคglobal conflicts and the future of the โtransatlantic alliance.
The shift in perception comes asโข Putin signals โno intention of altering his course inโ Ukraine, despite Trump’s public statements. This disconnect โฃhas prompted accusations that Trump is either unwilling or unable to effectively pressure Putin, leadingโข to a sense of disillusionment among keyโ alliesโ and a dismissive attitude โwithin โthe โKremlin. The implications extend beyond โคUkraine, perhaps impacting โU.S. credibility and its ability to forge a โunited frontโข against authoritarian regimes.
Criticsโ have begun to characterize Trump’s current stance โฃas a retreat from active foreign policy engagement. The Washington โขPost described โค it as “declaring” “the bystander phase of the Trump presidency.” A Wallโ Street Journal headline stated Trump is “sidelining himself” in foreign policy. New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman suggested the White House should be renamed “Waffle House” (or Taco Bell?) to reflect the perceived lackโ of decisiveโ action.
The international โresponse is equally โpointed.โฃ Poland’s deputy prime minister,โ Radoslaw Sikorski, asserted in a video last week thatโค Putin is “mocking” Trump’s peace talk through continued hostilities. In moscow, politicians and state media are celebrating Putin’s perceived success at the summit. When Trump toldโฃ “Fox & Friends” on Friday that his patience with Russia is “running out fast,”โฃ Russian State Duma leader alexei Zhuravlyov characterized it as Trump’s “normal state” – “either waiting to talk to Putin, talking to Putin or explaining how wellโ he talked to Putin.” Pundit Mikhail Rostovsky likened โ Trump’s threats to a recurring “Groundhogโข Day.”
Rostovsky added, “The Kremlin believes that Russia is slowly but surely achieving its goals in Ukraine,” and “therefore โคMoscow does not intend to stop there.” Putin himself has echoed โthis sentiment, a message that, according to observers, Trump does notโ appear to acknowledge orโค heed.
Jackie Calmes: @jackiecalmes
