Vladimir Putin is very versatile and knows how to manipulate Donald Trump, which could lead to the conclusion of the war in Ukraine on „dangerous” terms, warns a former security advisor from Trump’s first term at the White House.
Although Trump has made repeated appeals to Putin to accept negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, threatening him with new economic sanctions, the Kremlin leader is very experienced and knows how to control the American president, according to former national security advisor John Bolton.
"I believe Trump wants to get rid of the war in Ukraine and the war in the Middle East... I am worried about what this means for Ukraine. Because if you don't care about the terms of ending the war, I think Putin will try to influence Trump, I think he knows how to handle Trump and I think this is a very dangerous territory for Ukraine," he said on CNN, according to Newsweek.
Dionis Cenusa, a member of the European Policy Center, aligns with Bolton's view on Trump's orientation towards Kiev and Moscow.
"Trump has his own agenda and will not support Ukraine just because it is a victim of Russian aggression. According to Trump, Zelensky is not 'an angel,' and this personal criticism indicates a high probability that the US will not take Ukraine's side (and the EU)," he said on X.
A former security advisor in Donald Trump's first term at the White House, who has become one of the most vocal critics of the American president, Bolton played a key role in shaping US foreign policy. Trump replaced him in 2019, and since then, Bolton has become a fierce critic of the current president.
Earlier this week, after taking office for a second term, Trump removed the security details that Bolton had set in US foreign policy, details that were maintained by the Biden administration due to security threats from Iran. Bolton expressed disappointment in Trump's decision, stating that it represents "the triumph of politics over national security."
Bolton's statement about Putin's influence comes after Trump said that the Kremlin leader will destroy Russia if he refuses a peace deal.
The American president wrote on his social network, Truth Social, on Wednesday that he does not intend to harm Russia, loves the Russian people, and is doing Putin a great favor.
"I have no intention of hurting Russia. I love the Russian people and have always had a very good relationship with President Putin... I will do Russia, whose economy is collapsing, and President Putin a very big favor.
"Settle now and stop this ridiculous war! It will only get worse. If we do not make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other option but to impose high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on anything sold by Russia in the United States and various other countries," Trump stated.
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin is ready to negotiate. "We are waiting for signals (from Washington). Everyone is ready. It's hard to read the tea leaves here. As soon as there is something, if there is something, we will inform you," he said.
The Guardian also notes that Putin has already started to speak "Trump's language."
The pressure that the American president is trying to exert on Putin is a result of his positioning as a global peacemaker leader. However, even this consummate narcissist must be aware that his promise to end the war overnight was absurd, the British newspaper writes.
What seems to have changed his thinking is the persistent and skillful lobbying by Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president has been sending a simple message for months: Russia started the war, Kiev is ready to talk, Putin is the problem. One of his most convincing arguments, at least in Trump's mind, is that war is bad for business and harms US economic interests.
In his recent statements, Putin has dismissed Trump's threat of new sanctions and reiterated that he is open to one-on-one discussions.
He described Trump as "smart" and "pragmatic" - perhaps Putin believes that this is how he can deceive the American president. Or maybe he actually can, which is a cause for great concern for Ukraine and Europe.
No wonder Zelensky accused Putin on Friday of trying to "manipulate" Donald Trump.