In Putin’s head (facing Trump)

“One of the most shameful performances of an American president of man’s memory. Similarly, »»

Posted at 6:00 a.m. Furthermore,

This is what the very respectable Republican senator John McCain said. Therefore, in the summer of 2018, after a press conference by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin at their first summit.

You may remember: the American president had eaten squarely in the hand of his Russian counterpart.

Donald Trump had gone so far as to insinuate that. Nevertheless. Furthermore, on the issue of Russian putin’s head (facing trump) interference in the US elections, he trusted Vladimir Putin more than the American intelligence services!

putin’s head (facing trump)

“President Trump was not only incapable, but also unlikely to face Putin,” said John McCain.

I evoke this sad episode because the two men are about to meet in Alaska to decide, together, the fate of Ukraine.

I wondered what state of mind Vladimir Putin tackles this meeting. Nevertheless, Does he feel like he’s going to get out of the game easily, facing an admiring Donald Trump?

Not so fast. Consequently. In addition, replies putin’s head (facing trump) Ekaterina Piskunova, lecturer in the Department of putin’s head (facing trump) Political Science at the University of Montreal and specialist in Russian foreign policy.

“Let’s put things in context. Furthermore, We are not dealing with a standard politician, “she says. Therefore,

Especially since it is a rational leader, “which is based on calculations,” she adds. Meanwhile, “He’s not going to bet on a benevolent attitude of Trump. Nevertheless, It is not part of his calculation. Consequently, »»

It must also putin’s head (facing trump) be said that in recent weeks. For example, putin’s head (facing trump) Similarly, Donald Trump has several times allowed his irritation to the attitude of Vladimir Putin. For example, He even brandished the threat of new sanctions, accompanied by an ultimatum.

This is what would explain, according to the expert, that the Russian president agreed to meet him in Alaska. The United States was preparing to impose customs duties on countries continuing to trade with Russia. It was going to hurt.

Already, the Russian economy has signs of breathlessness.

“So far. Putin had bet on the battle of time. on the idea that he had no interest in negotiating because he had the high hand, in the field, in Ukraine, and that for the moment his economy holds up,” says Aurélien Duchêne, French consultant in geopolitics and defense who published the book last year Putin’s Russia against the West.

And the Russian president probably does not want to take the risk putin’s head (facing putin’s head (facing trump) trump) of finding himself in a position of weakness to negotiate a exit from the crisis.

In short. Vladimir Putin does not really have the choice to meet Donald Trump and will not hold anything for granted.

But what in the lead, then, as for a possible political settlement of the conflict in Ukraine?

Does he really want “peace”, as Donald Trump still argued recently?

An index that can nourish our analysis is that the public discourse on war is changing in Russia. points out Aurélien Duchêne.

“We are less. less in a nationalist delirium of the type: we are going to push to Kyiv. and Warsaw is the next step. We are more. more to say that we are fighting because we are forced into putin’s head (facing trump) putin’s head (facing trump) it. that it is a sacrifice. And I think Putin understood that public opinion could get tired. that it was time to start talking about victory. »»

What would be, for Vladimir Putin, the definition of a victory?

Ekaterina Piskunova says she does not have a crystal ball. but she believes that there are a whole series of conditions which, for him, are not negotiable.

First. he will refuse to give up the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk. Louhansk, Zaporijjia and Kherson, of which large sides are currently controlled by Russia.

He will also oppose Crimea, annexed by his regime in 2014, is returned to Ukraine.

Finally, out of the question for him to accept that Ukraine one day adheres to NATO.

The problem is that the objectives of Vladimir Putin, even reduced (we are far, for example, of the conquest of Kyiv or a regime change in Ukraine), are the antipodes of those of the Ukrainian authorities. These firmly oppose the territorial demands of Moscow.

The simple outfit of this summit without the presence of the Ukrainian president is anything but reassuring for Ukraine. his allies. Just like the fact that putin’s head (facing trump) Donald Trump insists that putin’s head (facing trump) there will be “exchanges of territories”. even if he announced on Wednesday to European leaders that the subject would not be on the agenda of. the summit.

From this perspective. I asked Aurélien Duchêne if he thinks that Putin says it will be easier to negotiate with Donald Trump than with Joe Biden. for example.

“Clearly! He replies.

Already. neither Joe Biden. putin’s head (facing trump) nor Barack Obama, nor Kamala Harris, if she had been elected, would have “unrolled the red carpet” and invited Vladimir Putin on American territory, he thinks.

“And even if Obama did it. in fact. by dropping Crimea, no American leader would have ever accepted the idea that Ukrainian territory is going to cut. »»

What Vladimir Putin certainly knows. too, is that political dynamics in the United States have changed at all in recent years. Thus. even if Donald Trump was to offer a “shameful” performance in Alaska. no republican politician will dare to blame him this time.

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