Two weeks on "peace": what else should Putin do to Trump impose sanctions against
He expressed deep disappointment because of the recent shelling that led to the death of people, while he called "negotiations. " Trump stated this during a briefing after the oath of the temporary acting prosecutor in the Columbia County. The US president noted that the situation with peace in Ukraine may clarify within two weeks. He stressed that negotiations with Putin are currently underway. Trump promised that it would be clear within two weeks whether Russia really seeks to end the war.
If it turns out that Putin "leads to his nose", the US can change his reaction. It is worth noting that Trump earlier declared his disappointment because of Putin's indifference to restarting relations between Russia and the US. In addition, the deputy chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev threatened Trump with the Third World War.
Considering this in terms of personal relationships - it seems between two men - so it seems that Putin has to do something personal Trump to change his sympathy for him or react hard. But in geopolitics everything works wrong, emphasizes political scientist Oleg Posternak in a conversation with focus. "National interests are decisive in international relations. The US interest is to establish relations with Moscow to counteract China together.
This is the macro -strategic goal of Trump's future administration. And that is why it does not want to change this great strategy for Putin's criticism, sanctions against Russia, or a return to Baiden. An alternative, excellent approach, ”says Posternak. The political scientist is convinced that from the point of view of geopolitics, even if Putin, relatively speaking, has publicly spit on Trump's portrait - this does not mean that Trump would react.
Because it all depends not on emotions or symbolic gestures, but on a great strategy. However, the expert notes that this position is definitely damaged by his authority. "Yes, to some extent it undermines his image of power. Trump perceives himself as a strong leader and tries to constantly demonstrate it - in statements, tweets, actions. And a strong leader, if he has already stated something, has to follow his position," the political scientist continues.
If the American leader positions himself as someone who can "bend" Putin and stop the war, then every act or omission reduces this internal logic of strength. However, Trump can compensate for such a blow to reputation with other high -profile achievements - say, concluding a favorable agreement with Iran or causing China's economic blow. Thus, according to Posternak, he will overlap the impression of inaction in the Ukrainian-Russian issue.
"But it should be borne in mind that for most Americans a war in Ukraine is a distant topic. It is not in time, does not cause a strong emotional response, is not part of their daily life. Its value is more noticeable to Europeans than for the US ordinary citizens," the political scientist emphasizes. Most Americans perceive war in Ukraine as an external, minor conflict.
According to Pew Research Center, only 28% of US citizens consider Ukraine support to be "very important" for the US national interests (as of early 2025). This gives Trump space for maneuver: he can ignore Putin's sanctions and criticism without a significant reputational strike among his electorate. However, Trump has not once hinted that Russia could expect sanctions if Putin delayed the war. This time, the US President has set a conventional time in two weeks.
According to Posternak, his administration probably has an alternative plan - it is about the duties on duties, and new instruments of influence, diplomatic pressure, preventing Russia's return to "Greater Eight", changing the US tone in the UN Security Council, hints at secondary sanctions, etc. "But if there are sanctions against Russia, but personally against Putin - no. Trump will not go," the political scientist says.
Even during the previous Trump presidential cadence, his attitude to Vladimir Putin raised questions. Former national security adviser John Bolton has repeatedly stated that Trump was "admired by Putin" and considered sanctions only as a tool of political auction, not as a punishment for aggression. In 2025 the situation did not change. Trump continues to declare that he will be able to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, but at the same time avoids direct criticism of the Kremlin.
Kyiv Independent analysts say that Trump does not consider sanctions as a moral position - for him it is a lever that can be used to conclude a favorable agreement. In particular, the Trump administration discussed the possibility of withdrawing restrictions from individual Russian companies in exchange for certain concessions of Moscow. This approach is alarming among US allies. In Berlin and Paris, they fear that such "flexibility" will undermine the unity of the event on the support of Ukraine.
The former US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFol, believes that Trump not only seeks to get along with Putin, but also sees a potential ally in it in counteracting China. However, this approach contradicts Trump's rhetoric as a "strong leader" that is decisive. According to the New York Post, Putin is likely to play that Trump is not ready for open confrontation with him, and therefore avoids real sanctions or sharp statements.
According to political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko, President Donald Trump demonstrates a contradictory position in his statements: on the one hand, he criticizes Vladimir Putin, accusing him of the escalation of the conflict, and on the other - trying to act as a defender of Russia, claiming that the situation would be much worse. This testifies to Trump's desire to quickly end the war in Ukraine, even if you have to make concessions of the Kremlin.