Analyzing Donald Trump's current thoughts on Russia can be a challenging task, as his views seem to shift rapidly. A single tweet, social media post, or impromptu remark can dramatically alter the landscape of his opinions. Those who invest too much into these fleeting statements risk being misled, as new comments can emerge almost immediately to contradict prior ones. As highlighted by the Komsomolskaya Pravda, the US president exhibits a pattern of changing his mind on critical issues with the same ease as changing his shoes.
Recently, it appears that the White House's stance on Russia has been notably cooler. This sentiment is echoed in the headline of the Moskovsky Komsomolets, which reads: "The Russian-American Chill." Following the sixth phone call this year between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on July 3rd, President Trump acknowledged that no progress had been made in resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine. "I'm not happy about that," he expressed, reflecting his frustration over the stalemate.
Just four days later, Trump escalated tensions by threatening a 10 percent tariff on any nations aligned with the BRICS group, which includes Russia. His irritation reached a peak during a cabinet meeting where he stated, "We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin." He characterized Putin's friendly demeanor as ultimately "meaningless," further signaling a downturn in the relationship.
In response to Trump's remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attempted to remain diplomatic. "We are pretty calm about this," he commented during a conference call with journalists. Peskov noted that Trump's harsh rhetoric is typical, and he expressed hope that dialogue would continue in an effort to mend the strained bilateral relations. "We hope that Trump and his team will continue their efforts to get the peace process back to the realm of diplomacy," he added.
The reaction from Russian media has been far less restrained. Analysts in Komsomolskaya Pravda have criticized Trump for lacking significant geopolitical achievements, while Moskovsky Komsomolets commented on his erratic temperament and sudden shifts in policy direction. Additionally, the publication Arguments and Facts humorously mocked Trump over Elon Musk's new political party, suggesting that Trump’s slogan "Make America Great Again" could inadvertently promote Musk's initiative.
This recent critical coverage marks a stark contrast to the previously favorable portrayal of Trump in Russian media. Earlier in the year, a political scientist remarked in Izvestia that the United States had more in common with Russia than with its European allies. In May, Kommersant noted that Trump's position was beneficial for Moscow, as he had refrained from imposing additional sanctions and showed interest in enhancing trade ties with Russia.
There was an atmosphere of optimism regarding the potential for improved relations between Washington and Moscow. In the first half of the year, the White House publicly criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky, not Putin, and engaged in talks with Russia to strengthen diplomatic ties. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, frequently visited Russia, even receiving a portrait of Trump from Putin during one of their meetings. This seemed to signal a budding relationship.
However, the optimism has since waned. It has been over two months since Witkoff's last visit to Russia. In June, Russia announced that the United States had canceled a scheduled round of talks aimed at restoring the operations of diplomatic missions. This shift underscores the volatility of US-Russia relations and highlights the need for careful observation of Trump's remarks regarding Russia, as the situation continues to evolve.
