SBS News today posted that headline on news that:
President Donald Trump has questioned whether President Vladimir Putin is “serious” about ending the war in Ukraine and hinted that Russia could soon face “secondary sanctions” from the United States if it doesn’t stop attacking civilian areas.
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days. It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war.
“He’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The comments came shortly after Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had what he described as a potentially “historic” meeting with Trump at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Saturday, shortly before the funeral of Pope Francis, about ending the current conflict.
“We discussed a lot one-on-one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting the lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The report notes a clear change in tone from the language Trump has been using over the last few months, in which he has repeatedly praised Putin while appearing to rewrite history by accusing Ukraine of starting the war.
Did Zelenskyy somehow persuade him that actually it was Putin who did the invading?
If so – well done.
And the realisation that maybe Putin doesn’t want to stop the war?
It’s about time.
Trump has been impeded in recognising grim realities by the seriously grandiose ideas he harbours about his prowess as a peace-maker.
He would pick up the phone when he settled into the White House, call his mate Putin in the Kremlin and – shazam! – the Ukraine war would be settled.
When would this happen?
In an interview with Time magazine this week, Trump was reminded that he had said he would end the Russian war on Ukraine on “day one.”
He claimed he hadn’t been speaking literally or seriously.
“Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point, and you know, it gets, of course, by the fake news [unintelligible]. Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended,” Trump said, according to Time’s transcript.
It’s a jest (do you believe him when he says that’s what it was?) which he relished in sharing with his audiences.
Journalists recall that on the campaign trail in 2023 and 2024, Trump said on dozens of occasions that he would end the war in Ukraine either within 24 hours of his return to the White House or even sooner than that.
A search of the Roll Call Factba.se database which catalogues Trump’s public remarks turned up at least 53 examples of Trump making such comments.
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
3 comments:
No, Zelensky didn't persuade Trump. If people stopped following the MSM and found alternative news sources they will see that Trump is getting good advice from his own military advisors. He wants to stop the Ukraine war and end the bloodshed. It is not a quick fix but diplomacy is always the first strategy. Sanctions don't mean a thing to Putin, he has China, India and others still supporting him. What's the answer then? Not to rush in where angels fear to tread...surely?
Empty words from Trump. There is little doubt that Putin & the Russians have something on him. And given his exploits in the bedroom over the decades, it is also not hard to imagine what they have on him. Nothing will happen with Trump over Russia - Putin will pay lip service while continuing to pulverise Ukraine into submission.
Anon 3:21PM Why is there little doubt inter alia that Putin has info about bedroom exploits? What garbage without facts. Enlighten us.
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