The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources close to Trump, that his view of Vladimir Putin has grown increasingly negative. The report says Trump initially believed Russia's military would quickly defeat Ukraine, a prediction that has not materialized.
The Wall Street Journal reported early Tuesday, citing sources close to President Donald Trump, that his assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin has grown increasingly negative. The report also revealed that Trump had initially believed Russia would quickly defeat Ukraine, a prediction that has not materialized. This marks the latest development in a series of WSJ reports on Trump's evolving stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The thread of reporting began Tuesday morning, when The Zioneer first reported on Trump's scheduled separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The WSJ then reported that Trump had told Putin in a recent phone call that he expects a near-term end to the war, and that Zelensky's standing with Trump was "particularly high" due to Ukraine's battlefield success. The latest report adds the detail of Trump's initial belief in a quick Russian victory, which has since soured as the war continues.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the evolution of Trump's views. In June, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Trump had believed Ukraine would lose the war, which drove his early push for a rapid peace deal, but that Trump later realized he was wrong. Earlier this month, Trump himself said that Putin "feels the pressure" from Ukrainian strikes. The Financial Times has also reported on Russia's disappointment with what it sees as a shift in Trump's approach.
The current report, based on anonymous sources, reflects a significant shift in Trump's perception of Putin. The full implications for U.S. policy, including the impact on Trump's approach to the ongoing war and his diplomatic engagement with both Russia and Ukraine, remain unclear.
5 developments
- DevelopingFinancial Times: Russia disappointed by Trump's shift on Ukraine
- DevelopingMacron: Trump believed Ukraine would lose, now realizes he was wrong
- DevelopingWSJ: Trump losing patience with Iran, described as in 'revenge mode'
- DevelopingKremlin sees Trump's Ukraine position as consistent, intelligence monitor says
Source and signal
- Open-source intake