Donald Trump is facing major challenges in leading America. In three months of governance, unexpectedly numerous failures have accumulated. The unfolding of the second term somewhat resembles the first, only much more chaotic, a disorder caused by the enthusiasm of returning to the White House and promoting rather mediocre ministers and advisors, chosen exclusively based on loyalty to Trump.
A series of failures: tariffs, DOGE-Musk, illegal deportations condemned by the judiciary, stock market crash, defeat against Harvard University, which rejected orders from the White House, China’s reaction also refusing negotiations with Trump, failure to reach a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, crisis at the Pentagon created by the Signal group, all together have led to a deadlock in the American administration.
Following statements by Trump and Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, that the U.S. may no longer be interested in the peace process in Ukraine if clear signals are not received from Moscow and Kiev within a few days that they seek a solution, many commentators have tried to find hidden meanings in this stance.
Many Russians applauded President Trump's election, believing he could broker a negotiated peace in Ukraine that would satisfy the Kremlin. Three months into Donald Trump's second term, disappointment in Moscow is palpable.
Anton Troianovski, New York Times journalist
In my opinion, reviewing the information and observing the evolution of the administration since Trump's return to the White House, I would be inclined to say that the American president lacks solutions.
A major rupture has occurred between his political vision, the expectations he had for his term, and reality. Let's not forget that Donald Trump is a privileged child, without a solid education, without life obstacles, egocentric, who managed to become the President of America due to the popularity of a television show.
Those who have followed his previous election campaigns know that he always positioned himself as a savior, expecting gratitude from citizens and the world.
It is also a common belief that spoiled, immature individuals, when faced with a challenge, with the possibility of defeat, tend to give up to save the image they have built about themselves.
Trump's Problem is Zelenski
The possibility that Trump may renounce his promise to bring peace to Ukraine actually conceals an acknowledgment of failure.
But in Donald Trump's opinion, the failure of negotiations is not due to Putin's inflexibility, but to Zelenski.
The American president knew even before winning the elections what the objectives of the Kremlin leader were. Why he invaded Ukraine and why he cannot withdraw, despite losing almost a million soldiers.
Trump never bet that he could convince Putin to release the conquered territories or at least some of them. He wagered on something else, that he could undermine Zelenski's authority, possibly provoke a change of political regime in Ukraine, offering the Russian leader the opportunity to claim that he achieved all his military objectives, meaning he conquered part of the neighboring country's territory and took political control of Kiev.
If, for certain reasons, one of the two parties makes things very difficult, we will just say <You're stupid, you're stupid, you're awful people> and we will give up, but we hope we won't have to do that...
Donald Trump, U.S. President, on the possibility of withdrawing from peace negotiations in Ukraine
Donald Trump is not dissatisfied with Putin. He sent a weak delegation to negotiations, led by a businessman rather than a career diplomat, namely Steve Witkoff, who bowed before the Russian president.
Trump's problem has been and continues to be Zelenski. The fact that he failed to compromise him, despite his best efforts, the scene of the meeting at the White House exemplifies this, is the cause of the failure, according to the American leader.
Furthermore, the attacks against the Ukrainian president have strengthened rather than weakened his position.
Bad News for the Kremlin
Another surprise for Trump was the swift reaction of Europe, the strategic alliance between the EU and the UK, the axis of power and resistance London - Paris - Berlin, which saved Zelenski and Ukraine's fight for survival.
It wasn't Putin's behavior that disoriented Trump, but Ukraine's and Europe's. He never expected to face internal resistance regarding the cancellation of aid for Ukraine and such thorough preparation from European chancelleries that anticipated what would happen if Trump returned to power and prepared accordingly.
Those who view the U.S. withdrawal from negotiations as a catastrophe for Ukraine and an advantage for Putin, in my opinion, are mistaken.
It will be exactly the opposite. Trump's withdrawal is bad news for the Kremlin, which will lose a hidden ally. Regarding military support, it will not stop at least until Ukraine receives military weapons and equipment worth $60 billion, support approved by the U.S. Congress last year.
In terms of information, I don't believe Trump will have the political courage to stop their transfer to Ukraine again due to tensions within his cabinet that emerged after making such a decision in March, a decision suspended after a few days.
Trump cannot afford the political risk of being accused by the opposition that innocent people are dying in Ukraine because of him.
In the coming days, it will be interesting to see Putin's reaction. Will the Kremlin leader allow Trump to withdraw from negotiations? In my opinion, the danger for the Russian president is so great that he will oppose it. We will see how. He has taken the first step, Putin announced a unilateral ceasefire for two days on the occasion of Easter.