While former President Donald Trump and his administration has received harsh criticism for their appeasement of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he noted the example of the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. As such, it isn’t surprising that not long after a phone call with Putin Trump made his remarks. The Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations remain at an impasse. The war. The former president rightly denounced the Russian government’s actions. He further articulated a grave concern for the humanitarian toll of the war.
Trump’s comments came in the wake of a dramatic upswing in violence. In the span of a single week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia had fired more than 1,270 drones, 39 missiles, and nearly 1,000 glide bombs on Ukrainian cities. The former president remarked, “Putin is not treating human beings right. He’s killing too many people.” No wonder Trump is increasingly frustrated that there’s no diplomatic progress to show for it. He is horrified by the increased attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population.
Escalation of Violence
The humanitarian situation in Ukraine has changed drastically since Russian forces launched their invasion. According to reports from Zelenskyy, the Russian military has conducted near-nightly drone strikes on various urban areas, resulting in substantial civilian casualties and widespread destruction. A notable incident involved the collapse of an apartment building due to these attacks, underscoring the grave humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
The US is reportedly making a concerted effort to mediate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. As Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov points out, it’s not because Putin wants a peaceful settlement. Trump made his displeasure for this position very clear, stating it’s pointless to adopt a diplomatic overture that produces nothing. He stated, “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth.”
International Ramifications
Putin’s radical invasion has quite literally cowed the nation of Ukraine. They have equally sent ripples through these global markets, hurting countries such as China and India that rely on Russian oil. The US government is still considering heavy sanctions against countries that keep doing business with Russia. A new surprise bill would slap a jaw dropping 500 percent tariff on products imported from countries that buy Russian oil. This action is intended to increase the economic isolation of Putin’s regime.
As we’ve previously reported, in light of the violence and humanitarian disaster that continues, the US has made significant strides in increasing its military assistance to Ukraine. Trump acknowledged the necessity of providing additional weapons to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, stating, “I’m looking at it very strongly.” US officials recently released extremely blunt warnings regarding the potentially catastrophic impact of continued Russian military action. At the same time, the availability of weapons has skyrocketed.
The Path Forward
Although the ceasefire talks seem to invite hope, the continuing death and destruction has not seen any productive involvement from Putin thus far. Trump’s criticisms highlight a broader frustration regarding the international community’s inability to hold Putin accountable for his actions. Now the former president is calling for a re-energized push. His goal is to force Russia back into line with international norms and compelling behavior and care for human rights.
As the war continues, the world looks to Russia to see how Russia’s unacceptable and unjust actions in Ukraine affect the world’s stability. The continuing war in Ukraine is still arguably the most important issue in geopolitics right now. As the violence continues, the cry for a firm, final, conclusive answer intensifies.
