Putin’s Continued Aggression: A Failure of Trump-Era Diplomacy
A recent phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump has highlighted the stark reality of the Russian-American relationship, with Putin emerging as the dominant partner. The conversation, which lasted over two hours, yielded no significant results, with Putin reaffirming his commitment to continued aggression in Ukraine.
According to a report by The Atlantic, Putin’s readout of the call was characteristically vague, with the Russian president stating that his country would propose a memorandum on a possible future peace accord, but only if it met certain conditions. As The Atlantic notes, this is little more than a stalling tactic, with Putin’s language being "the universal language of political stalling." The article quotes Putin as saying, "We have agreed with the president of the United States that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible future peace accord, defining a number of positions, such as, for example, the principles of settlement, the timing of a possible peace agreement."
In response to Putin’s statement, Trump released his own version of the call on his Truth Social platform, claiming that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War." However, as The Atlantic points out, Putin’s statement did not remotely suggest that he was willing to engage in immediate negotiations, and it appears that Trump has once again been outmaneuvered by the Russian president.
The article from The Atlantic highlights the stark contrast between Trump’s rhetoric and the reality on the ground. Despite Trump’s claims of being a peacemaker, Putin has continued to pursue his aggressive agenda in Ukraine, with a massive drone attack being launched against Ukrainian targets on the night of the phone call. As The Atlantic notes, "Putin, having swatted away Trump’s efforts, will now continue his war, and people will continue to die."
The failure of Trump-era diplomacy has significant implications for the conflict in Ukraine. As The Atlantic points out, Trump’s retreat from the peace process may open the door to renewed sanctions, but it is unlikely that Trump will take a strong stance against Putin. The article quotes Trump’s statement that "the conditions for a cease-fire ‘will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.’" This represents a significant shift in Trump’s position, with the former president now seemingly abandoning his efforts to broker a peace deal.
According to The Atlantic, a more nuanced understanding of the conflict is needed, one that recognizes the fundamental problem: Putin’s commitment to a set of war aims that include the partition and eventual destruction of the Ukrainian state. As the article notes, "Putin is stuck only because he’s still committed to a set of war aims that include the partition and eventual destruction of the Ukrainian state." If Putin wanted out, he could get out tomorrow, but he won’t accept losing a war after three years that he thought he could win in a week.
The article from The Atlantic also highlights the need for a more robust response from the international community. As the article notes, "Vance and other ‘both sides’ apologists have a shallow understanding of international conflict and almost none of Russia, which is why they seem flummoxed by Putin’s stubbornness." A more effective approach will require a deeper understanding of the conflict and a willingness to take a strong stance against Russian aggression.
In conclusion, the phone call between Putin and Trump has highlighted the failure of Trump-era diplomacy and the continued aggression of Russia in Ukraine. As The Atlantic notes, "Putin may well be ready for some kind of cease-fire agreement, if only so that his forces can catch their breath and regroup, his government can cast off some sanctions, and Putin himself can keep his own political house in order in Red Square." However, it is unlikely that Trump will be able to broker a peace deal, and the international community must now consider a more robust response to Putin’s aggression.
The article was originally published by The Atlantic and can be found at https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/05/putin-trump-russia-ukraine/682848/.
