The Russian dictator has set his country up for war for decades. For him, there can be no turning back in Ukraine. Because Putin's goals have not changed at all. He wants to take over the neighbouring country completely. Even Donald Trump noticed that - and yet let himself be shown.
The fact that Donald Trump keeps talking or writing nonsense is less due to stupidity than ignorance. The US president lives, surrounded by lackeys, in a self-created bubble in which only one truth counts: his own. He probably seriously believes that Vladimir Putin is "sathating" the war. That was mistake one. Mistake two goes like this: "He doesn't stand well there and wants to look good. Don't forget that the whole thing should actually be over in a week. If he hadn't been stuck in the mud with his tanks, they would have been in Kiev in about five hours."
Even if one has long since become accustomed to the fact that the president of the most powerful country in the world likes to bluff out into the world when the day is long, the high degree of ignorance is always shocking. But unlike in his first term, Trump has managed to protect his bubble against every small stab from the inside and outside, to make it impenetrable. Anyone who contradicts him and expresses doubts about his - imagined - political artistry will be banned from insults. Whoever confirms it, flatters it and confirms its - imagined - uniqueness, has an easier game.
Putin, as nealous and stupid as his American counterpart, mercilessly exploits the character traits in his favour. The mass murderer in the Kremlin is skilful at making Trump feel like his buddy and being on par with him. But that is not the case. The Russian is - unlike the US president - a calm strategist who has a plan and goes through it iron, without telling anything else day after day. In terms of cunning and cunning, Putin is far superior to Trump - which means something. The first man in the White House looks up to him because Putin is doing exactly what the American does not or does not yet dare: to secure his power by all imaginable means - and to take what he wants by force.
Putin can only war.
"Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations about a ceasefire and, more importantly, about an END to the war," Trump said after the phone call with Putin. He, in turn, placed emphasis on the statement "that Russia's overall position is clear. Our main goal is to eliminate the causes of this crisis." There are worlds between the statements.
"I will end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours," Trump had declared in the election campaign. Like so many of his sayings a joke. From time to time, however, there are bright spots that soften the impression of complete ignorance of the situation. So it was when the US president recently said at a meeting with major donors that Putin wanted "the whole thing". Correct. The Russian dictator wants to take Ukraine completely, whether in war or by surrendering the country, he does not care at all. But a forced pseudo-peace is never based on reconciliation and therefore carries the risk of further bloodshed. Hopefully the president will realise that at some point.
ntv
