Remember when Donald Trump swaggered around the campaign trail boasting he could end the Russia-Ukraine war “within 24 hours” of taking office? Well, folks, we’re now over 100 days into Trump 2.0, and instead of peace, we’ve got the former real estate mogul reduced to pleading with his longtime pen pal Vladimir Putin via social media.
In the wake of Russia’s deadliest missile strikes on Kyiv in nine months, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his dissatisfaction—not with the war itself, but with its timing. “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!” he posted. The strikes, which Ukraine’s Air Force described as a “massive” assault involving 70 missiles and 145 drones, hit 13 locations across Kyiv, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens more.
For a man who’s built his brand on appearing tough and in control, there’s something almost pitiable about watching Trump discover that his “very good relationship” with Putin doesn’t translate to actual influence. Who could have possibly seen that coming? Oh right, everyone.
Trump’s approach to the peace negotiations has essentially been to demand Ukraine surrender substantial territory while asking virtually nothing of Russia. His administration has even taken the extraordinary step of abandoning decades of U.S. policy by suggesting Crimea—illegally annexed by Russia in 2014—is simply “lost” and not worth discussing anymore
His relationship with Zelensky has always been rocky. This is the same Donald Trump who, back in 2019, tried to extort Zelensky into announcing fake investigations into Joe Biden. That little stunt got him impeached for the first time, but it also set the tone for his ongoing disdain for Ukraine’s president. Trump has repeatedly accused Zelensky of being the problem, painting him as a stubborn leader unwilling to compromise, while conveniently ignoring the fact that it’s Russia—not Ukraine—that has systematically violated ceasefires and escalated the war.
What’s really happening here is that Trump’s worldview—his idea that everything can be solved with a “deal”—is crashing headfirst into reality. War isn’t a real estate transaction. You can’t just offer Putin a better “price” and expect him to back down. And you certainly can’t bully Zelensky into surrendering without destroying America’s reputation as a defender of democracy. If this is the “art of the deal,” then maybe it’s time for Trump to go back to selling steaks and slapping his name on buildings.
Published: Apr 24, 2025 10:27 am