Trump’s Embrace of the Kremlin Throws Russian Elites and Propagandists Into Disarray

For Donald Trump, unpredictability is a deliberate tactic to create uncertainty, and he likes to shock people by making provocative statements to elicit reactions. Another guiding principle for Trump is that the U.S. has been doing too much for the world and is being taken advantage of. In his view, the U.S. is paying while others are benefiting—particularly in the case of NATO, where the U.S. covers 70% of defense costs,

the veteran diplomat revealed

For Trump, ending the war requires stopping Russia, which no one was doing. He also wants Ukraine to repay the United States for the assistance it has provided,

Volker stated

China is a rising power that comes across as a direct adversary to the United States, whereas India is a rising power seen as a friendly state with shared values,

the former envoy commented on the evolving geopolitics in Asia

Our community is also divided. Some say: ‘Don’t believe it, nothing will come of this. It’s all a circus — Trump doesn’t make the real decisions, the deep state does’,

said a current Russian diplomat

The thaw is good. Tensions with Europe and Ukraine are bad. We need to negotiate with everyone,

said a former Kremlin official

Trump is a talented performer and a master strategist. He’s luring us into a long-planned script designed to daze, then weaken and subdue Russia. The intrigues of the U.S., NATO and the EU are part of a coordinated policy. We mustn’t trust them — we must continue pursuing our own interests,

warned another Russian diplomat

In my circle, people have mostly swallowed this [believed in real reconciliation]. Everyone is tired of war. They think Putin has won. Trump benefits too — he’s a businessman, he makes deals. Europe hasn’t adapted. Blah blah blah,

said a senior executive at a major state-linked corporation

Some of my acquaintances are already quietly dusting off their Visas and Mastercards, hoping that sanctions will be lifted and new opportunities will arise,

said a former high-ranking Russian official in the banking sector

[Rapprochement with the U.S.] is an illusion! The only thing worse than an Anglo-Saxon enemy is an Anglo-Saxon friend,

said a former senior government official now working at a state corporation

Indeed, as a share of GDP it looks to be harsher than what the victorious allies imposed on Germany in the Peace of Versailles after World War I, ... To squeeze the war-crippled country for all we can, simply because we can, would be despicable."

The outlet wrote of Trump's proposed deal ... and added

He has made some very significant points consistently in all credit to President Trump about Europe, and Europe stepping up when it comes to defence spending.”

Appearing on Sky Breakfast on Thursday (20 February), Ms Patel said

The better strategy than beating up Ukraine is making clear to Mr. Putin the arms and pressure he’ll face if the Russian doesn’t wind down the war to accept a durable peace,

the editorial concluded

We realize that the ruthless men who rule much of the world can’t be ignored. But usually those men aren’t rewarded with a visit to the U.S., as Mr. Trump hinted last week, before they’ve made any compromises,

said the board

Any peace Mr. Putin strikes has to be made with all of his legacy of destruction in mind,

it concluded

Last week Mr. Trump said Ukraine can’t join NATO and must give up much of its territory to Russia—concessions to Mr. Putin with nothing in return,

it wrote

A peace agreement that is broadly favourable to all sides would have macroeconomic benefits: it could set the basis for a modest pick-up in some Russian pipeline gas flows to Europe [and] the easing of Western sanctions on Russia,

he noted in emailed comments

The decision by the U.S. and Russia to 'lay the groundwork' to end the war in Ukraine marks a potentially significant turning point after three years of conflict,

Liam Peach, senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said in a note Tuesday

For now, it is necessary to clean up the legacy of the Biden administration, which did everything to destroy ... the very foundation of long-term partnership between our countries,

Lavrov said, commenting on the possibility of strategic cooperation between Russia and United States, Russian state news agency Tass reported

In general, as I was told, it [the mood] was very friendly. On the American side, there were entirely different people who were open to the negotiation process without any bias, without any prejudice to what was done in the past,

he said in comments translated by NBC News

Vladimir Putinrussian President

I rate [the negotiations] highly, there is a result,

Putin said