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Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Spectator
How Russia is preparing for Putin's meeting with Trump
Amidst contradictory leaks and rumours coming from the US administration, no one is quite sure what to expect when Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska on Friday – not even the Russian press. Nonetheless, they seem rather less convinced that Trump is about to stitch up the Ukrainians than the Western media. Of course, there is satisfaction at the prospect of Putin's first visit to the US since 2015. Facing a campaign intended to try and isolate Russia, Putin had just sent troops into Syria to reverse what seemed then the imminent collapse of the Assad regime, and with US assets also deployed in the area, then-president Barack Obama had had no choice but to meet his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The scenes of a clearly uncomfortable US president were met with delight by the Russian nationalists. One hawkish university professor even had a picture of it in his office, and when asked why, he grinned and told me: 'That was a meeting Obama didn't want to have, but we made him. We showed him that Russia could not be ignored.' There is a similar sense among the Russian media that for Putin simply to meet Trump is already a win for Russia. However, there is distinctly less triumphalism over the prospects of a deal to end the war and a sense that they are not getting a clear steer from the Kremlin. As usual, when the Russian press is faced with a politically sensitive topic without such guidance, they fall back on selectively picking from foreign press reports and experts to allow them to write something without actually hanging their own editorial hats on their positions. There are times when this is harder than others, and then all kinds of fringe YouTubers and similar random commentators are pressed into service to make the 'right' point safely. Thus, the most upbeat predictions are attributed to foreign commentators. Nezavisimaya Gazeta, for example, finds some suitable American professor willing to say that 'everyone knows' Zelensky will have to surrender territory, as he has no choice given Ukraine's 'lack of manpower, weapons, strategy, finances and fighting spirit'. (Most Russians at the front line might question that assessment, especially of fighting spirit.) In Vzglyad, the leader of the marginal French Eurosceptic Patriots party, Florian Philippot, is quoted as saying that 'the Europsychos are hysterical at the sight of approaching peace'. By contrast, editorial comment tends to be much more cautious. The business newspaper Vedomosti warns that 'immediate results and breakthroughs, especially in the Ukrainian direction, should not be expected yet'. Western readers might be surprised to read that while their media is focusing on the 'will they/won't they' drama of a potential deal over Ukraine, though, in Russia this is not necessarily being treated as the main story. Indeed, the nationalist Tsargrad news outlet cites a pundit claiming that '99 mper cent of the time, the conversations will not be about Ukraine at all.' Instead, Fyodor Lukyanov, one of Moscow's main foreign policy interpreters, focuses in the government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta less on what the summit may mean for the war, and more on what it says about Russia's renewed standing as a great power. He examines the prospects for a new relationship with Trump's America, as the two leaders meet in isolated Alaska, 'removed from third parties… one on one, the rest of the world watching the stage from the auditorium, spellbound'. Even so, on every side there are cautions not to expect miracles. In Izvestia, Andrei Kortunov, one of the dwindling band of relatively liberal foreign policy academics, warned that 'the anti-Russian consensus in the United States remains broad and relatively stable' so that expectations ought to be moderated. To him: The value of the planned summit probably lies not in reaching some specific fateful agreements but in giving a new impetus to bilateral relations. In other words, to set in motion the heavy gears of cumbersome state mechanisms, which without such an impetus will not budge on their own. In other words, this is just the start of a process, at best, and one which many will be eager to derail. As a commentator notes in Rossiiskaya Gazeta, in Alaska, there may be 'no British spies, Ukrainian agents or European 'well-wishers' eager to disrupt the dialogue'. Nevertheless, the Russian press is united in highlighting the degree to which 'Russophobes' in Kyiv, in Washington, in London and in the European Union are briefing against the meeting now and will seek to undermine any outcomes they don't like after. The overall sense is far from the jubilation assumed in much Western coverage. On Ukraine, there is cautious optimism, but also an awareness that even if a deal is struck in Alaska, there are still many obstacles to the kind of peace that would be a victory for Russia. Of course, there is also an awareness that even if a deal is derailed by Kyiv, that is advantageous for Moscow as a chance to frame Kyiv and the Europeans as the warmongers. Yet there is a wider hope, quite possibly unrealistic, that regardless of that, some kind of new relationship, perhaps built on sanctions relief in return for privileged access to the Russian market and natural resources, can begin to be built with the US. And as for the Kremlin, it seems to be keeping its cards close to its chest, not even showing them to its tame newspapers.
Newsweek
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Russian Newspaper Gives Donald Trump New Nickname
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Russian newspaper branded Donald Trump the "President of War" following a U.S. military operation against Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. U.S. bombers deployed 30,000-pound "bunker busters" on Iran's underground nuclear facilities, ending days of speculation over whether Trump would authorize direct military intervention for his objective to put "a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's No. 1 state sponsor of terror." The developments were published by several state-owned and independent Russian newspapers, including Rossiskaya Gazeta, Komsomolskaya Gazeta, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moskovsky Komsomolets and Kommersant, according to BBC's Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg. Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) looks at U.S. President Donald Trump during the welcoming ceremony prior to the G20 Summit's Plenary Meeting on November 30, 2018, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) looks at U.S. President Donald Trump during the welcoming ceremony prior to the G20 Summit's Plenary Meeting on November 30, 2018, in Buenos Aires, It Matters The U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear infrastructure has far-reaching impact for American security interests, global energy markets and the volatile Middle East region. Israel and Iran are waging direct hostilities, with hundreds killed as both sides launch missiles. The intervention by Washington could define regional stability for years, test U.S. alliances in Europe and the Gulf, and set dangerous precedents over nuclear nonproliferation enforcement. Congressional leaders and protesters nationwide have warned of the risk of a third U.S. war in the Middle East this century. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the strikes as "unprovoked aggression," and coverage in major Russian outlets questioned the long-term fallout for global stability and Russia's regional interests. What To Know Over the weekend, the U.S. launched strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan—using "bunker-buster" bombs weighing up to 30,000 pounds. The attack, dubbed Iran Operation Midnight Hammer, involved more than 125 U.S. military aircraft. Putin on Monday condemned the U.S. strikes as "an absolutely unprovoked act of aggression against Iran." "It has no basis or justification," Putin said, according to Kremlin newswire Tass. Putin made the comments during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, adding that Russia was "making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people." Nezavisimaya Gazeta ran a front-page headline that read: "Trump has become the president of war" and said the strikes marked a fundamental shift in U.S. foreign policy. Trump "violated his election promise to be the president of peace, not war," the newspaper said. "For the Russian Federation, such a transformation in the White House policy does not bode well. It may mark the end of Trump's peacekeeping efforts in the Russian-Ukrainian [war]," the newspaper added. Rossiskaya Gazeta, a state-run publication, mocked Trump's campaign slogan with the headline: "Trump Makes America Wage War Again." Komsomolskaya Pravda questioned what the attack meant for Russia, quoting a Middle East expert who said: "If this [Iranian regime change] happens, we [Russia] would lose a partner, the Islamic Republic, and be left with a new center of instability affecting not only the Middle East, but also Central Asia and the South Caucasus, regions which are very sensitive for us." Trump floated the possibility of "regime change" in Iran in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday night, writing: "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Moskovsky Komsomolets warned of possible economic repercussions, asking: "The Americans committed aggression against Iran after war raise the price of oil to $200 a barrel?" That's possible because Iran has warned that it could shut the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, in retaliation for U.S. involvement in its conflict with Israel. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea which handles around 26 percent of global oil trade, making it one of the most strategically important maritime passages in the world. The International Energy Agency notes that any disruption to flows through the strait would have significant consequences for world oil markets. Meanwhile, Kommersant ran a headline with a hint of skepticism: "The U.S. carried out a strike on Iran in order to 'end this war...'." What People Are Saying Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, on Monday on the situation in the Middle East possibly interfering with dialogue between Russia and the United States: "These are different areas. We have our partnership relations, a strategic partnership with Iran, but we are also working on restoring our relations with the United States. Both are very important areas. "And our dialogue with the Americans also depends, so to speak, on the possibility of reaching a settlement in many other areas. Therefore, it is unlikely that anything will interfere, one will interfere with the other." What Happens Next Iran has repeatedly threatened retaliation for the U.S. strikes. The full extent of the attacks is not yet clear, but Trump claimed Sunday that "the hits were hard and accurate" and "obliterated" Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rosenberg: Trump takes US-Russia relations on rollercoaster ride
If I was writing a Russian language course for 2025, Lesson One would definitely contain the phrase for rollercoaster: Amerikanskiye gorki. It means, literally, American Hills. How appropriate. After all, with President Donald Trump now operating the ride, and Vladimir Putin pressing some of the buttons, US-Russian relations have become one of late, with highs and lows and twists and turns. You never know quite where you are now. Analysing geopolitical trends is hard enough at the best of times. It's even harder careering along on the American Hills of the 47th US president. When Trump returned to the White House in January, his direction of travel was clear: he set out to repair relations with Russia. There were Trump/Putin phone calls, high-level US-Russia negotiations. At one point Washington voted with Moscow against a UN resolution that identified Russia as the "aggressor" in Russia's war against Ukraine. Whenever the Trump administration exerted pressure, it was always on Kyiv, never on the Kremlin. But a week or so ago the rollercoaster ride began. After Vladimir Putin had proposed replacing President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration with "external governance" in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, President Trump made it known that he was "angry" with Putin. "I was disappointed in a certain way, some of the things that were said over the last day or two having to do with Zelensky," Trump commented on 30 March. "Because when [Putin] considers Zelensky not credible, he's supposed to be making a deal with him. Whether you like him or you don't like him." After a day playing golf with Trump, the president of Finland, Alexander Stubb, told the Guardian newspaper: "I think America, and my sense is also the president of the United States, is running out of patience with Russia." Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs of up to 50% on Russian oil exports if Russia was found to be dragging its heels on a Ukraine peace deal. A bi-partisan group of US senators has gone even further. They've drawn up a bill that would impose 500% secondary tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other resources. Up to this point the Russian press had been welcoming the thaw in relations between Moscow and Washington. The Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper last month ran a headline stating that US and Russian officials had "started speaking the same language". This week things changed. On Wednesday, Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper accused the Trump administration of "administrative insanity… inexperience… immaturity". It criticised the administration's "bragging and arrogance" and "its desire to declare 'huge breakthroughs' when the first steps have barely been taken". The same day, Komsomolskaya Pravda declared: "On Ukraine talks, Donald's mood changes as often as the wind." Signs, perhaps, of a cold wind blowing between Moscow and Washington? And yet when Trump announced his sweeping tariffs this week, Russia wasn't on the list. Instead, US authorities had organised a sanctions waiver for a key Kremlin official: Putin's foreign investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev flew into Washington for talks with the Trump administration. A sign, perhaps, of Russia and America getting on with the business of… getting along? But on Friday, another warning from Washington to Moscow. This time at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels. "President Trump's not going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations about negotiations," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not." "If they're not," he continued, "then we'll have to re-evaluate where we stand and what we do moving forward about it." This followed criticism of Russia by America's Nato allies. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Putin "continues to obfuscate, continues to drag his feet". "He could accept a ceasefire now, he continues to bombard Ukraine… We see you, Vladimir Putin, we know what you are doing." Earlier on Friday there were rumours that Trump and Putin were about to speak again on the phone. These were followed by more rumours: the White House had changed its mind. The Kremlin said that there were no plans for a conversation. But there are reports that American companies are planning to take part in this year's St Petersburg Economic Forum. Okay. Stop the ride. I need to get off. My conclusions from all of this. Trying to follow each twist and turn on the US-Russia rollercoaster can leave you giddy and confused. Sometimes it's better observing from a distance. It often helps in order to identify the bigger picture. Which is this: for months Donald Trump's team avoided criticising Putin and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Key White House officials, like special envoy Steve Witkoff, have repeatedly embraced and repeated Kremlin talking points. True, Washington says it's growing impatient with Russia and has threatened tougher sanctions on Moscow. But it hasn't imposed any. Not yet. Will it? Is the Trump administration prepared to pressure Moscow into ending the war? And would the Kremlin allow itself to be pressured into doing so? It's a key question as Russia's war on Ukraine continues. Election rumours swirl in Ukraine – could Zelensky be mulling a summer poll? Zelensky hopes US will 'stand strong' in face of Russian demands Rosenberg: Trump-Putin call seen as victory in Russia
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Trump is taking US-Russia relations on a rollercoaster ride
If I was writing a Russian language course for 2025, Lesson One would definitely contain the phrase for rollercoaster: Amerikanskiye means, literally, American all, with President Donald Trump now operating the ride, and Vladimir Putin pressing some of the buttons, US-Russian relations have become one of late, with highs and lows and twists and never know quite where you are geopolitical trends is hard enough at the best of times. It's even harder careering along on the American Hills of the 47th US Trump returned to the White House in January, his direction of travel was clear: he set out to repair relations with Russia. There were Trump/Putin phone calls, high-level US-Russia negotiations. At one point Washington voted with Moscow against a UN resolution that identified Russia as the "aggressor" in Russia's war against the Trump administration exerted pressure, it was always on Kyiv, never on the a week or so ago the rollercoaster ride began. After Vladimir Putin had proposed replacing President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration with "external governance" in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, President Trump made it known that he was "angry" with Putin."I was disappointed in a certain way, some of the things that were said over the last day or two having to do with Zelensky," Trump commented on 30 March. "Because when [Putin] considers Zelensky not credible, he's supposed to be making a deal with him. Whether you like him or you don't like him."After a day playing golf with Trump, the president of Finland, Alexander Stubb, told the Guardian newspaper: "I think America, and my sense is also the president of the United States, is running out of patience with Russia."Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs of up to 50% on Russian oil exports if Russia was found to be dragging its heels on a Ukraine peace deal. A bi-partisan group of US senators has gone even further. They've drawn up a bill that would impose 500% secondary tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other to this point the Russian press had been welcoming the thaw in relations between Moscow and Washington. The Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper last month ran a headline stating that US and Russian officials had "started speaking the same language". This week things Wednesday, Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper accused the Trump administration of "administrative insanity… inexperience… immaturity".It criticised the administration's "bragging and arrogance" and "its desire to declare 'huge breakthroughs' when the first steps have barely been taken".The same day, Komsomolskaya Pravda declared: "On Ukraine talks, Donald's mood changes as often as the wind."Signs, perhaps, of a cold wind blowing between Moscow and Washington?And yet when Trump announced his sweeping tariffs this week, Russia wasn't on the list. Instead, US authorities had organised a sanctions waiver for a key Kremlin official: Putin's foreign investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev flew into Washington for talks with the Trump administration.A sign, perhaps, of Russia and America getting on with the business of… getting along?But on Friday, another warning from Washington to Moscow. This time at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels."President Trump's not going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations about negotiations," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio."We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not." "If they're not," he continued, "then we'll have to re-evaluate where we stand and what we do moving forward about it."This followed criticism of Russia by America's Nato allies. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Putin "continues to obfuscate, continues to drag his feet"."He could accept a ceasefire now, he continues to bombard Ukraine… We see you, Vladimir Putin, we know what you are doing." Earlier on Friday there were rumours that Trump and Putin were about to speak again on the phone. These were followed by more rumours: the White House had changed its Kremlin said that there were no plans for a there are reports that American companies are planning to take part in this year's St Petersburg Economic Stop the ride. I need to get conclusions from all of to follow each twist and turn on the US-Russia rollercoaster can leave you giddy and it's better observing from a distance. It often helps in order to identify the bigger picture. Which is this: for months Donald Trump's team avoided criticising Putin and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Key White House officials, like special envoy Steve Witkoff, have repeatedly embraced and repeated Kremlin talking points. True, Washington says it's growing impatient with Russia and has threatened tougher sanctions on Moscow. But it hasn't imposed any. Not it? Is the Trump administration prepared to pressure Moscow into ending the war? And would the Kremlin allow itself to be pressured into doing so? It's a key question as Russia's war on Ukraine continues.
