President Donald Trump has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians as “absolutely crazy”, but has yet to take concrete action against Russia. Despite weeks of escalating violence, Mr. Trump has refused to join Europe in imposing new financial sanctions on Russia or offer significant military aid to Ukraine.
Mr. Trump’s comments come after a weekend of the largest bombardment of Ukrainian cities over the past three years, with mostly civilian targets being hit. The attacks have left thousands dead and injured, and raised concerns about Mr. Putin’s intentions for Ukraine.
Critics argue that Mr. Trump’s reluctance to act on Russia is part of a pattern, where he signals a willingness to withdraw from conflict but ultimately fails to follow through. This has led to a strategic void in which the US complains about Russian aggression but takes little action.
Experts point to Mr. Trump’s phone calls with Mr. Putin as a key factor in his reluctance to act. Despite claiming that only he and the Russian leader have the power and influence to end the war, Mr. Trump has since changed his position multiple times. He initially believed that Mr. Putin was winning the war and should be pressed for a cease-fire, but later claimed that Russia was seeking to absorb all of Ukraine.
The US has dismantled efforts to collect evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, and has refused to support a UN declaration that identified Russia as the aggressor in the invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also been careful not to criticize Mr. Trump, but has pressed for more economic sanctions on Russia.
In a statement, White House officials cited poor track records of sanctions on Russia and argued that they would not be in US interests. However, critics argue that this is just another example of Mr. Trump’s willingness to prioritize his relationship with Putin over global security concerns.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/us/politics/trump-putin.html