“Tomahawk Diplomacy.” Trump's threats forced Putin to talk

US President Donald Trump's threats to transfer Tomahawk long-range missiles to Ukraine forced Russian leader Vladimir Putin to organize a meeting in Budapest – commented the American newspaper “Washington Post” on Saturday.

In the text entitled “Misunderstood Tomahawk Diplomacy,” the newspaper said many commentators “don't understand both Trump's tactics and the type of peace deal he's trying to forge.”

As “WP” stated, Trump “was not so much bluffing as threatening” Russia when he talked about the possibility of handing over the missiles to Kiev. “In fact, these threats had a clear effect: Putin initiated Thursday's conversation,” the daily noted.

According to the American newspaper, the claim that Trump is “easily influenced by Putin, let alone manipulated or controlled by him, does not withstand criticism.”

At the same time – according to “WP” – the American president is not seeking Russia's capitulation, but to conclude a peace agreement based on the same assumptions, i.e. along the current front line and with security guarantees for Ukraine.

“On his way to Budapest, Trump keeps all his cards. Ukraine will continue to hit the energy infrastructure deep inside Russia, and oil prices are at their lowest level in almost five years,” wrote “WP.”

At the same time, the American Congress is soon to adopt sanctions regulations that will give the president the opportunity to “tighten the screws on the Russian economy,” the daily added. He also mentioned the possibility of transferring American Tomahawks, German Taurus missiles to Ukraine or introducing a no-fly zone in Ukraine.

“America still has tools to put pressure on Russia, and Trump's readiness to use this force was previously underestimated,” the newspaper concluded. (PAP)

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