Mark Toth and Jonathan Sweet
In February 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin was facing a choice: He could either be the Don of the Donbas and bag its riches, or he could become the Czar of Crimea and militarily dominate the Black Sea.
So far, Putin has failed to do either. Although his armies continue to make incremental gains in Eastern Ukraine, the Donbas region is far from secure. And the Russian Black Sea Fleet has been forced to flee its ports in Crimea and the Sea of Azov.
Putin may face an added problem. President Trump may be preparing to deny him both by setting himself up as the unlikely liberator of Ukraine.
History, occasionally, likes its plot twists.
On Monday, Trump indicated that he wants to strike a $300 billion deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, declaring “We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earths and other things.”
Notably, by late Monday evening, Reuters reported that the U.S. had resumed military equipment and ammunition shipments to Ukraine. Thus far, no new military aid packages have been announced. However, it is significant that Trump, at least for now, is willing to continue backstopping the armed forces of Ukraine.
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