Staff Reports
Vladimir Putin seems to think that Donald Trump, the freshly inaugurated president, is up to the monumental task of solving the mess in Ukraine. After all, who better to broker peace than the man who has spent years dodging political minefields back home? In a recent visit to Kazakhstan, Putin congratulated Trump, labeling him “intelligent” and “experienced.” This raises the question: does Putin know something the rest of the world is still figuring out? Perhaps he’s just hoping Trump can pull a rabbit out of a hat—or rather, a peace deal out of a political tumult.
JUST IN: 🇷🇺🇺🇸 Russian President Putin says Donald Trump is a smart and experienced person who will come up with a solution to end the war in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/8C7dMObwMH
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) November 28, 2024
With the political pantomime behind them, Putin made it clear he is ready to chat with the Trump administration. Considering his previous statements about resolving conflicts, it seems the Russian leader has big hopes riding on the orange-haired wonder. He laid out his conditions for peace, which include Ukraine giving up its NATO aspirations and pulling troops from territories Russia has, interestingly enough, claimed. It’s almost as if Putin is hoping for a friendly game of geopolitical chess, where the board is set to his advantage.
One has to chuckle at Putin’s remarks on Trump’s campaign slogan of restoring relations—a certain way of expressing, “Hey, let’s get cozy, shall we?” Putin lauded Trump’s ambition to swiftly bring peace to Ukraine, which, given the current situation, sounds more like a fantasy than a feasible plan. Yet, in the topsy-turvy world of international relations, the potential thawing of U.S.-Russia ties under Trump is likely to have some establishment heads spinning. They might recall the days of yore when a firm handshake could solve more than a few issues, but were they ever really resolved?
Naturally, Putin didn’t hold back when taking aim at Western leaders. He slammed their so-called “adventurism,” as if the West were merely a group of toddlers playing with matches in a fireworks factory. According to him, the West is dragging the world toward a “dangerous line,” an amusing metaphor for those who think shooting off fireworks from both sides would lead to a safe and civilized discussion. Meanwhile, the fallout from the conflict has been detrimental, with casualties mounting and the situation escalating to levels not seen since World War II.
In another twist, Trump is assembling his foreign policy team with military veterans, putting Keith Kellogg at the center of Russia-Ukraine negotiations. This cadre of seasoned advisors may become the first major mark under Trump’s second audience with foreign policy challenges, which will undoubtedly keep analysts and pundits busy as they try to predict whether American grit can outmaneuver Russian tactics. As Putin put it, negotiations are key, although one has to wonder if both sides will truly come to the table with equal stakes—or if it will be more like a game of poker where one player believes they hold all the aces.
The landscape looks ripe for a shifting dynamic, with power plays from both ends likely to dominate the headlines. Ultimately, Putin’s commendation of Trump may serve to bolster a narrative many in the conservative camp have cheered from the sidelines: an America ready to take charge of its foreign policy while weaving a new tapestry of relationships. It appears the world will be watching closely as Trump steps into this stage, hoping that perhaps his famous deal-making skills can finally put a lid on the simmering pot of conflict.
