Trump isn’t getting anywhere with his bff even with all his promises of “deals.” Imagine that:
On a call Monday, President Trump told European leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t ready to end the Ukraine war because he thinks he is winning, according to senior European officials familiar with the conversation.
European leaders had long believed this—but it was the first time they were hearing it from Trump, these officials said. It also ran counter to what Trump has often said publicly, that he believes Putin genuinely wants peace.
In a statement after an earlier version of this article was published, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, disputed the accounts, saying Trump “did say he believes Putin is winning the war BUT he NEVER said ‘Putin isn’t ready to end war.’”
Leavitt said Trump said several times during the call that “he believes Putin wants peace and wants the war to be over.”
One of the officials, who was on the call, said Trump began the discussion by saying, “I think Vladimir does not want peace.”
I can tell you who I believe… mainly because it’s obvious. Of course Putin doesn’t want peace. He wants surrender. And he wants it all.
The Europeans realize that Trump isn’t going to help. He hates Ukraine and he hates Europe and the only reason he’s been trying half-heartedly to broker a peace is so he could get credit for doing it and win the Nobel Peace Prize.
But there is a silver lining. His buddies in the military industrial complex want their money:
While the effort ultimately didn’t succeed in getting Trump to do that through additional sanctions, Europeans saw some upside to the outcome. The process had helped clarify for everyone, including Trump, where Putin stood: He is unwilling to halt the war at this stage. And for the Europeans, it helped underscore that it was now largely up to them to support Ukraine. Europeans don’t believe the Trump administration will stop U.S. weapons exports as long as Europe or Ukraine pays for them, the officials said.
I’m sure he’d like a taste. Maybe they could buy him a nice, expensive bauble to sweeten the deal.