The Irish Independent's View: Trump tries to save face over weakness towards Putin
After Mr Trump issued a stern rebuke to Vladimir Putin, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev dismissed the criticism with this sinister warning: 'Regarding Trump's words about Putin 'playing with fire' and 'really bad things' happening to Russia. I only know of one REALLY BAD thing, WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!'
US special envoy Keith Kellogg said: 'Stoking fears of World War III is an unfortunate, reckless comment and unfitting of a world power.'
But Putin has been giving Mr Trump the runaround, and shamelessly so. He could scarcely conceal his laughter as Washington continually talked up the potential for peace and the 'great' progress made.
Putin has ramped up the war machine. Ukraine has warned that Russia is planning a summer offensive to capture the eastern region of Donetsk. At the same time, it is pinning down Ukrainian forces with attacks in Kharkiv and Sumy.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has gathered 50,000 troops in the region for the assault. Unless Russia is stopped, he said, it will seek to keep going beyond the Donetsk region and take a much larger chunk of his country.
To date, Mr Trump has turned a blind eye to every provocation and act of defiance that Moscow could offer. Analysts have warned that Moscow is taking Washington's inaction as acquiescence. Putin has become ever more brazen as a result. Many analysts are baffled as to how Mr Trump could have been so easily strung along for the last four months.
We're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not, and if he is, we'll respond a little differently
There comes a point when blind indulgence begins to look like weakness – hardly a good look for the 'leader of the free world'.
But having tut-tutted indulgently, there are finally signs – if only to spare his blushes – that Mr Trump is about to take a harder line.
He is said to be considering new sanctions against Russia. He may also step up military support for Kyiv's defences and green-light extra European assistance.
This is regarded as a far more effective way to resolve the conflict than anything tried so far.
'We're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not, and if he is, we'll respond a little differently,' Mr Trump said. So long as Putin feels he can prevail militarily, he will not do a deal to end the war.
There is a misconception that when it comes to putting the bite on Russia, Washington only has rubber dentures, but this is not true.
Washington has sharp teeth, but has chosen not to use them. If Mr Trump is to save face – and, more importantly, secure a peace deal – he must recognise that Putin only ever responds to strength.
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