When Donald Trump ran for a second term, he promised he could stop the war between Russia and Ukraine. He claimed his close relationship with Vladimir Putin would make it easy.
Now, over eight months later, the conflict is still ongoing. Trump has previously blamed President Biden for the situation, but recently he has admitted things haven’t gone as planned.
Last week, during a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Trump said Putin had let him down. He repeated similar comments while speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron. He admitted he had overestimated his influence, saying, “I thought that was going to be the easiest one because of my relationship with Putin,” and added, “Unfortunately that relationship didn’t mean anything.”
This marks a noticeable shift in Trump’s stance. He seems to be moving away from Putin and closer to supporting Ukraine and President Zelenskyy. He even suggested that Ukraine might regain territory lost to Russia since 2014.
Of course, Trump is known for changing his opinions frequently. Just six months ago, he and his VP were urging Zelenskyy to accept Russia’s gains. Many observers on social media noted that his positions can swing rapidly.
Still, Trump admitting that his “special bond” with Putin didn’t work is significant. It may be the first step toward a more realistic approach to the Ukraine conflict.