Donald Trump is no strong man…Putin is
To all intents and purposes, Donald Trump has folded after his third conversation with Vladimir Putin in three months.
After the call — today, May 19 — the US president all but said that he was walking away from Russia’s war in Ukraine and wanted to dump all peacemaker responsibilities on others.
Russia, the invader.
Ukraine, the invaded.
The new American-born Pope Leo XIV.
Europe.
Anyone who’s name is not Donald J Trump.
The world is left with the impression of a weak and vacillating American president, one whose eye is fixed on the main chance rather than any point of principle. As on his recent tour of the Gulf region, Mr Trump has once again given the world to understand that he wants no part of any testy issues and would rather have a business deal of some sort.
In the process, Mr Trump seems to have settled the issue once and for all on whether he is a strong man.
He may yet become an even more authoritarian ruler but in the literal sense, he is not a strong man. He will not persevere nor persist for the sake of the greater public good. He is too insubstantial to stand up to Russia’s president.
In the process, he has given Mr Putin a great opportunity. Not only is the Russian leader’s equation with this American president just as it always was — full of Mr Trump’s regard — he can continue with Russia’s war aims secure in the knowledge the US will impose no penalties.
Originally published at https://www.rashmee.com
