May 26, 2025

Following his two-hour-long telephone call with President Putin on May 19, President Trump claimed that his conversation with the Russian leader went very well and that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to start negotiations toward a ceasefire immediately. He also said, “Russia wants to do large-scale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over, and I agree. There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country.”[i]

Washington’s Western allies hardly shared his optimism.