US President Donald Trump is negotiating like he was there all the time real estate tycoon in the New York borough of Queens. By bluffing, exerting pressure or using threats, he ultimately forces an agreement in which one side wins: Donald Trump.
The only problem is this the US president now has to deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putinnot with property owners and developers in Queens.
Next to Chinese dictator Xi Jinping, Putin is the most brutal, dominant and tactically adept politician in the world. He went from a minor intelligence officer to a Russian tsar. It transformed a mid-sized economy with a gross domestic product of $2.1 trillion. [ok. 7,6 bln zł] — less than half of Germany's GDP [4,6 biliona, czyli ok. 16,7 bln zł] — into a hyper-aggressive power with enormous influence and allies around the world.
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And Putin is unfortunately – as the last nine months since Trump took office have shown – able to repeatedly deceive the US president and use it to fulfill their goals in Ukraine. Especially since Trump has little respect for Putin's opponent, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Worse still, the war in Ukraine itself is humiliating for the US president – a lost cause that is getting on his nerves, causes unnecessary costs and prevents economic rapprochement between Moscow and Washington.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump before a joint press conference, Anchorage, Alaska, United States, August 15, 2025.Bob Strong / PAP
If Volodymyr Zelensky still had any doubts, his visit to the White House late last week and the confusion over the delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles made it clear to him: Ukraine cannot rely on Donald Trump. This is a devastating realization.
Will Volodymyr Zelensky manage to convince unconvinced Europeans?
Now President Zelensky must minimize the damage. They must continue at least providing intelligence on the movements of Russian armed forces and multi-billion dollar sales of American weapons to Europeans in order to support Ukraine within the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).
Zelensky's only hope remains the Europeans. Now they are the only ones who can stop Russia from defeating Ukraine and taking over much of the country. How? By purchasing weapons from the Americans and also supplying equipment from its own stocks. This is why Volodymyr Zelensky is also calling for a re-meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, a group consisting of over 30 Western countries, to discuss further arms deliveries and security guarantees.
Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer and Donald at the meeting of the “coalition of the willing”. Kyiv, May 10, 2025EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO / PAP
However, Zelensky should not expect too much. This “coalition of the willing” is characterized primarily by reluctance. The big debates about security guarantees have so far been merely entertainment for the astonished public in Ukraine and Europe.
Over the summer, promises of arms supplies from Europe collapsed dramatically. Additional billions to support Ukraine are now to be raised thanks to Brussels' tricks in providing previously frozen Russian assets (so-called reparations loans). If Europe doesn't do more, Putin will soon win this war.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
