Trump and Putin's public “warm” relations: WSJ answers what's really behind it

Trump and Putin's public “warm” relations: WSJ responded that Dmitry Usik is actually behind it

The public “warm” relations between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin hide deep tensions. During Trump's first term, relations between Moscow and Washington worsened.

This was reported by Channel 24, citing The Wall Street Journal.

Trump and Putin's relations are tense

The publication notes that Putin and Trump had previously failed to agree on key issues such as arms control, security cooperation, and continued US support for Ukraine, which Russian troops invaded in 2014. Moscow also wanted agreements on tactical and intercontinental nuclear weapons, as well as agreements on Ukraine's neutrality.

Former US representative to NATO under Trump Kurt Volker is confident that the president-elect's “warm” words about Putin mask a more mercenary negotiating tactic:

If you look at his first term, he had very warm comments about Putin. At the same time, he lifted the embargo on arms supplies to Ukraine, says Volker.

At the same time, the Trump-era official notes that the Republican does not demonize the person he is talking to because he “wants to make a deal.”

The publication notes that Trump and Putin have now returned to warm public rhetoric, but “society is hiding deep tensions.”

“Putin is not ready for any substantive conversation around any possible peace plan because he is not ready to make any concessions. Period. He believes that he has enough financial and emotional resources to continue,” said seasoned Russia watcher Andrei Kolesnikov.

Although Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine even before the oath, Putin has already outlined the basis on which he is prepared to sit down at the negotiating table. Putin wants Ukraine to cede territory, wants guarantees that the country will not join NATO, and also wants the easing of large-scale sanctions.