Former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are preparing for what could be an historic summit in Hungary. They’ll address the critical issues focused on the continuing war in Ukraine. The meeting follows a significant flurry of diplomatic activity. Most importantly, it seeks to figure out how to make Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine come to an end. Trump hailed these developments following a phone call with Putin that just days prior suggested a revival of marshalling leadership to bring the crisis to an end.
Last week, the two leaders stood on a red carpet at an airport. Trump welcomed Putin with an elaborate red carpet show. This latest gesture of diplomacy comes after their two countries held talks. It further demonstrates Trump’s ongoing commitment to using the nation’s international relations to influence the course of events in Ukraine. Indeed, Trump has publicly lamented his inability to resolve the war. This was something he initially promised to do as part of his campaign for the presidency.
Diplomatic Developments and Economic Pressures
In doing so, Trump proved prescient. He disclosed that Indian PM Narendra Modi promised him that India would cease purchasing Russian oil. Responding to India’s role in the ongoing economic landscape, Trump has taken measures to exert pressure, doubling tariffs on Indian products to 50 percent. This move is intended to push India to conform with U.S. strategic goals around Russian energy imports.
Trump’s approach is multifaceted. He has, for one, signaled an intent to bring China to the table for similar negotiations over Russian oil purchases. He stated, “going to get China to do the same thing,” reflecting his broader strategy of rallying international partners against Russia’s actions. This tactic reflects his conviction that economic punishment can be an important part of changing Russia’s direction in Ukraine.
The forthcoming summit comes on the heels of a U.S.-led summit in Alaska that was largely viewed as a wash. Such concerns have been amplified by critics’ arguments that this earlier meeting came off as a diplomatic win for Putin. Jeanne Shaheen, a prominent senator, criticized Trump’s handling of the situation, stating, “After walking away from his Alaska summit with Putin empty-handed, President Trump has now decided to reward Putin again by rolling out the red carpet in Hungary.”
Preparing for the Summit
As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Berlin next week for high-level talks between advisers from both countries, after this, yet another key meeting will be held in Hungary. Not surprisingly, Trump was pretty optimistic about all the outcomes. He added that in his own recent call with Putin, the Russian leader had promised to arrange additional calls. This is indicative of Trump’s continuing efforts to meet in the middle even as circumstances have deepened the mess that is the Ukraine crisis.
Ahead of the summit, Trump has dropped hints about what he’d like to see discussed. “Because of my relationship with President Putin, I thought this would be very quick,” he remarked, reiterating his belief in a swift resolution to the conflict. Skepticism lingers among national political leaders and policy analysts about the viability or success of this brand of diplomacy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given his comments about the meeting. Just as President Trump has ridden the wave of prior victories in curtailing Middle East conflict towards further gains, Ambassador Billingslea hopes to ride that momentum against Russia. He emphasized that “the language of strength and justice will inevitably work against Russia as well,” highlighting the need for robust international support for Ukraine.
Ongoing Challenges and Future Implications
Despite Trump’s diplomatic overtures, challenges remain significant. The former president has faced criticism for not providing sufficient military support to Ukraine, with Senator Shaheen asserting that “President Trump is repeating the mistakes of the past by not arming Ukraine to the teeth and letting them win this war.” This critique mirrors a larger and increasingly bipartisan chorus of U.S. legislators calling for much stiffer measures to counter Russian aggression.
Third, Trump is preparing for his meeting with Putin. In parallel, he is weighing further discussions with Capitol Hill about possible legislation to promote accountability for Russia’s war. We understand that the chairman of the House T&I Committee, Rep. Input image via https://250.dot.gov/readiness/ This demonstrates he understands the importance of reaching across the aisle to address international conflicts and economic pressure on Russia.
