Reuters ran a story by Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn yesterday, Putin says Russia is ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war, about Putin’s Thursday press conference. He claimed he’s “ready to compromise” over Ukraine in possible talks with Señor Trumpanzee. The two writers noted that Trump is “a self-styled master of brokering agreements” and that he had “vowed to swiftly end the conflict, but has not yet given any details on how he might achieve that.”
Trump’s a blowhard and the spoiled, overly-entitled offspring of a real estate magnate. Putin is a trained KGB agent… and Trump is no match for him. Putin was even negotiating on Thursday when he claimed he was confident in Russia's geopolitical position, particularly regarding the Ukraine war. He insisted that Russian military operations have made Russia “much stronger” and dismissed any narrative of weakness or defeat and reiterated that the conflict would continue until Russia achieves its stated goals, including the “denazification” and demilitarization of Ukraine. In short, he said negotiations with Señor T will be under terms favorable to Russia, suggesting that peace would come when Russia's objectives are met.
He emphasized Russia's move towards greater sovereignty, criticizing Western countries for their policies and for escalating the conflict in Ukraine. He suggested that any escalation was due to actions by the U.S. and its allies and threw in a defiant challenge to the West— a “high-tech duel” over missile technology, specifically mentioning the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, suggesting its effectiveness against NATO defenses. This kind of thing may easily work against Trump but Zelenskiy, in Brussels, questioned Putin's sanity in response to his missile claims.
Remember, Putin certainly knows that despite Trump portraying himself as a “master negotiator,” a claim rooted in his shady business career pocked with bankruptcies and lawsuits, scripted reality TV persona and his ghost-written book, The Art of the Deal, his business successes are vastly overstated. During Trump's stay in the White House, his dealings with Putin worked out well for Russia. Their Helsinki summit in 2018, demonstrated Trump's checker game compared to Putin’s chess. Trump seemed most eager to hear Putin's absurd denials of election interference, while he showed he clearly lacked depth in understanding geopolitical nuances. Trump's style— taught to him by another blowhard, Roy Cohn— is characterized by bold, overblown statements and undeliverable promises, like his claim to end the Ukraine conflict swiftly. However, his actual negotiation strategies are superficial, lacking in detail... focusing more on personal relationships and shameless naked self-interest than any kind of strategic depth.
At the same time, Putin is widely regarded as a skilled and manipulative negotiator with a deep understanding of both Russian and global politics. His background in the KGB and long tenure as Russia's leader have honed his abilities in strategic maneuvering. While Trump is entirely focused on lining his own pockets and childish goals (like revenge against his domestic “enemies”), Putin has consistently managed to maintain and expand Russian influence despite international sanctions and criticism. His negotiations often involve playing a long game, using energy politics, military strength, and diplomatic isolation tactics. His approach includes psychological manipulation, patience, and leveraging Russia's geopolitical position to gain concessions. He's adept at exploiting weaknesses in opponents' positions or public opinion.
Given Trump's history, there's no doubt whatsoever that he’ll prioritize a quick deal over a just resolution for Ukraine. His past comments and actions indicate that he’ll eagerly make concessions on Ukraine's sovereignty to claim a diplomatic victory. Putin will certainly enter into the negotiations with more strategic preparation and less need to show immediate results. Trump's clownish bravado and focus on personal accolades will make him more susceptible to being outmaneuvered by Putin's more calculated and patient approach. There’s no doubt that Trump will hang Ukraine out to dry in favor of a perceived quick “win.”
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