The central question in international diplomacy is now whether President Donald Trump’s two-week gambit will successfully force Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hand on Ukraine. By threatening “massive sanctions,” Trump has significantly raised the stakes for Moscow.
The gambit is designed to achieve a specific outcome: a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump believes that such a summit is the only way to achieve a breakthrough in the stalled peace process.
As he faces this pressure, Putin has chosen to praise Trump, calling him a “light at the end of the tunnel.” This could be a strategic move to soften Trump’s stance or a genuine belief that a deal can be made with the U.S. president.
However, Putin also made it clear that there are limits to how far he can be pushed. His impassioned defense of Russian sovereignty in a speech to nuclear scientists serves as a warning that Moscow will not compromise on what it sees as its core national interests.