Ukraine war
Trump wants a deal – but sanctions will not stop Putin
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Donald Trump puts Wladimir Putin an ultimatum. Will it frighten the Kremlin? Barely. Putin should rather encourage the threat to continue on his way.
In many ways, the post is a typical “Trump” with which Donald Trumpauf promoted “Trump” for a peace deal: it contains blatant mistakes and a gross clumsyness. Trump writes that Russia lost almost 60 million lives in World War II. It is true that over 60 million people died in this war – but in this number the victims of all countries involved are summarized.
Not Russia, the Soviet Union was attacked by Germany – the number of victims of the USSR is around 27 million. However, this includes the dead of states such as Belarus and Ukraine – the number of ethnic Russians is estimated at around 14.5 million. A huge number, but not 60 million.
Trump led to a neglect
Another wording is likely to be worse in Russia. Trump said that the Russians, or the Soviets, had helped the USA – “Helped Us” – to win the war. This choice of words is likely to act like an open affront in the Kremlin. Moscow’s point of view says the opposite: the USSR had won the war against Hitler Germany, and the western Allies had only “help”.
Not a word of military help
In the matter itself, however, Trump’s threat of Kreml boss Putin should calm down. Because he only announces new sanctions and tariffs. Against Russia and states that help Russia. He wrote: “If we don’t make a ‘deal’ soon, I have no choice but to prove everything that Russia sells to the United States and various other countries involved, with high taxes, tariffs and sanctions.”
It is important what he does not threaten, but what many experts had expected as a threatening setting. Namely an announcement to massively increase military help for Kiev should refuse to “deal”.
In any case, the effect of sanctions is at least doubtful. In the first eleven months, Russia exported only goods worth $ 2.9 billion to the USA. Before the war in 2021, there were almost 30 billion. To a large extent, the remaining US imports affect goods that the United States cannot substitute, such as uranium, palladium and rhodium.
It would be more promising to sanction the trading partners of Russia, so that they limit the trade with Moscow. Regardless of the political risks, this approach needs time to have an effect.
Kyiv runs the time of it
Time that Ukraine no longer has. In the Kursk area, Kyiv still holds a corner of Russian areas. This front sponsor is further defended. But all efforts cannot hide the fact that the zone is slowly but steadily melting together under Kiev control.
Development in the east is much more decisive anyway, especially in Donbass. The word “critically” describes the conditions inadequate, “catastrophic” would be more correct. The loss of the cities of Bachmut and Awdijiwka was still being dismayed worldwide. In the meantime, the loss of important Ukrainian bastions and cities is hardly reported. Kiev troubles the situation in central places, such as the big city of Pokrowsk, difficult. There is nothing more than a deletion.
- The Russians were stopped at Pokrowsk, but they started to avoid the city southwest. In the meantime, their cable drones operate over the urban area and hunt for the Ukrainians’ vehicles. The Russians may already have trimmed into the foothills of the city.
- The Mountain Fortress of Tschasiw Jar is a central anchor in the Ukrainian front, and Ukrainians have long been able to defend the city, but the situation of the remaining defenders in the center is now hopeless. It doesn’t look better in the city of Welyka Novosilka. The surviving Ukrainians no longer control paths from the almost enclosed city to escape their only chance, is the withdrawal over fields and a river. Supposedly the Russians have even split the boiler.
- Kurachowe fell to the Russians a few weeks ago, also a Ukrainian anchor point. The 155th brigade “Anna von Kiev” should be a showcase project for the Ukrainian units, which were trained and armed with the support of foreign partners – partly in France, partly in Ukraine. 1700 men deserted before the first enemy contact, the brigade was actually dissolved.
Deceptive hopes
This short demolition makes it clear that Kiev cannot simply continue in the east if the entire armed forces are not to be worn out. So that the soldiers get some air on the front, something has to happen now and not in six months. With the delivery of further Himars throwers and a large number of ATACMS rockets, the entire war would not be able to be turned, but they could disturb the current Russian momentum.
Hope for sanctions can be just as deceptive as the thesis that Russia’s armaments industry would collapse after 2025 because Moscow then used up the old stocks. Here it is deliberately overlooked that Russia can get new and old war material at friendly states. Just as it already happens with the far-reaching Koksan guns from Korea.
Beijing also plays a central role. The industrial Powerhouse China already supports Russia with dual-use goods and machines for armaments production. It doesn’t have to stay. The recognized expert Colonel Markus Reisner said to “NTV”: “I assume that sooner or later we will also see Chinese weapons in Ukraine.”
Source: Stern

I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.