Trump vs. Putin: When the Set Collapses
Has Donald Trump Changed His Stance on Russia and Putin?
By Vitalii Portnikov
Is Donald Trump rethinking his attitude toward Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin?
It’s curious to watch how those who, just a few months — even weeks — ago urged us to “understand Trump” and go along with his delusions as he phoned Putin and boasted about their “great conversations,” now insist that Trump still favors the Kremlin — even as he appears far more grounded and far less indulgent toward Putin.
Let’s start with the obvious: Donald Trump is loyal to only one person in this world — Donald Trump. Everyone else — from Melania to Putin to Xi Jinping — are simply props in the grand theater of his ego. He is loyal to one country — America — but only the America that exists in his mind. All other countries are mere background scenery. If one were to disappear from the map, he likely wouldn’t notice. Ukraine and Greenland hold no real value for him. But neither does Russia.
Second: Trump dislikes when the props around him look bad or fail to fit his idealized worldview. When Zelensky refused to play the role of a convenient side character, he got punished accordingly. Now, when Putin refuses to be a cooperative part of Trump’s “set,” he’s facing a similar reaction. The winners are those who know how to play the supporting role well — just ask Mark Rutte. Those who can’t? They’re advised to step aside until 2029 and stay out of the way. Putin has tried to present himself as a useful partner — but only to the extent that it benefits him. His vanity and penchant for over-the-top moves have already made him look foolish in front of Trump more than once. You’d think his KGB background would help — but 25 years of unchecked power can de-skill anyone. And let’s face it: Putin was never that great at the KGB to begin with.
Third: Trump’s “50 days” ultimatum isn’t a green light for continued occupation of Ukraine. Putin will continue regardless — sanctions or weapons won’t stop him. But Trump always sets clear deadlines for those he wants to fit into his narrative. Remember Iran? No one believed that 60 days after Trump’s ultimatum, a 12-day war would break out. Now, the Russians may not believe him either. But if they don’t respond, Trump’s actions after 50 days could be far more serious. No, he won’t act directly at first — he’ll act through others. Including us. That could mean long-range missiles with a demand to strike Moscow.
Could this lead to a Russian nuclear strike? Yes — but such a strike is possible even without decisive action on our part. It’s better to have the means to respond than to have none at all. And yes — in the event of a nuclear strike on Ukraine — Trump might enter the war himself. Because his “set” would be destroyed. That’s not just political — it’s personal. His ego would demand a response. This doesn’t mean World War III begins in 50 days. But it does mean the pace of escalation will accelerate. And yes, WWIII might be one of the few remaining scenarios for preserving Ukrainian statehood. In a global firestorm, it’s sometimes easier to survive on the periphery.
Fourth: This isn’t an apocalyptic forecast. Trump’s unpredictability could actually force Putin to rethink his approach. It might even push him to simulate a peace process — not on Putin’s terms, but on Trump’s. Maybe it would lead to a ceasefire. Maybe it would last weeks, months, even years. But that pause could give Ukraine valuable time: to prepare for the next phase of war, to build an effective government, and to create a system of deterrence strong enough to make Putin think twice before launching a new offensive.
So yes — Trump’s frustration with the “set” he built around Putin is our opportunity. And it would be a sin not to take advantage of it.