April 14, 2025
Trump gives in to the military/security complex, renews weapons to Ukraine and extends sanctions on Russia for a year.
On April 10 Trump declared a continuation of the national emergency with Russia and renewed President Biden's April 2021 executive order declaring Russia to be an "unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and the economy of the United States."
By renewing Biden's executive order, Trump even buys into the Russiagate charges against himself:
Among the "harmful" activities ascribed to Russia in the document are "efforts to undermine the conduct of free and fair democratic elections and democratic institutions in the United States and its allies and partners."
Russia is also blamed for a Washington specialty: "undermining security of countries and and violating principles of international law."
Trump has already cluttered the peace negotiations with his demand for Ukrainian rare earth minerals. Now he has introduced another extraneous issue-his demand for control of the pipeline through which Russian natural gas is delivered to Europe. Yes, Putin is still supplying Russia's active enemies with energy. What sense does it make to help your enemies make war against you?
The Kremlin remains unable to read the writing on the wall. Kremlin spokesman Peskov said that "our dialogue with the American side is ongoing," and that Moscow remains open to resolving the Ukraine conflict diplomatically. The Kremlin thinks it is building relations with Washington by being the only party to keep the ceasefire on energy infrastructure. It is not succeeding. Trump has already threatened Russia with more sanctions unless Russia agrees to a total ceasefire. What incentive does Russia have to do that when Zelensky? US? NATO? won't even keep a partial ceasefire?
It leaves one to wonder if Putin has convinced Washington that he is so averse to war that he will eventually surrender.
It is now completely clear that Putin made a strategic mistake not to quickly win the conflict. Instead, the Kremlin valued reaching an agreement with the West higher than it valued Russian national defense. See this.