Jim Geraghty of National Review Online critiques the president’s latest statements about Russia’s war with Ukraine.
President Trump, hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, assures the world that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin “wants to see Ukraine succeed.” This is like saying that Trump wanted to help Kamala Harris succeed in the last presidential election, or that the Death Star wanted to help Alderaan succeed, or that the New England Patriots wanted to see the New York Jets succeed. …
… Despite what must be the most gentle and dulcet tones imaginable in his phone conversations with Trump, Putin has taken no action to indicate he wants peace this year. From January through October, Russia dropped about 40,000 bombs on Ukraine. In October alone, Russia dropped 5,328 bombs on the positions of Ukrainian forces and frontline cities, according to the Ukrainian military. …
… Whether or not Trump actually knows next to nothing about the Russian invasion, he keeps speaking as if he knows next to nothing about the Russian invasion. There are people who will characterize this as attacking Trump, yet another display of my “TDS.” No, this is quoting President Trump. Don’t get mad at me for noticing what Trump is saying; get mad at our 79-year-old president for saying it.
Some might argue that Trump’s effusive praise for Putin is a negotiating tactic, buttering up Putin and flattering him in hopes of making the Russian dictator more conciliatory. But Trump has been at this for almost a year, hosting Putin at a summit in Alaska, and, so far, this flattery-and-concession-heavy approach has gotten nowhere.
Every couple of weeks or months, Trump stands before the cameras and gives a stream-of-consciousness monologue about how much he wants peace, and how close his negotiators are to a deal to bring peace to the region. He offers a supremely implausible tale of Putin’s desire for peace and his willingness to compromise. … Trump makes demands of the Ukrainians, and the Ukrainians play ball. … Then Trump and his team turn to Putin in hopes of a corresponding act of good faith, and they never get it. Then Trump gets frustrated and turns to other issues for a while.
