Imitation of pressure and a buffer for Putin: Trump distances himself from decisions on Ukraine
5 June 2025 17:04
ANALYSIS FROM 
Trump is trying to maintain a buffer zone and influence Putin diplomatically. In light of Donald Trump’s new statement about the possibility of obtaining leverage over Putin from the US Congress, Ukrainian experts are assessing the political implications of such words.
Interestingly, Trump’s post on Truth Social came after a “good conversation” with the Russian dictator. A game on two fronts? Is Donald Trump really ready to put pressure on Putin, or is he just imitating influence, hiding behind Congress? What is the real meaning of such statements – more in the article
Donald Trump’s post says that Congress can provide leverage to coerce Putin. However, if conversations with the Russian side are going well, according to the US president, should we even resort to coercion? His assessment in an exclusive commentary for
“Against the backdrop of current events around Ukraine and potential negotiations that are now under threat, Donald Trump is trying to absolve himself of some of the responsibility for the radical steps expected of him,” says Sergiy Yagodzinsky.
According to him, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore Kyiv’s requests for sanctions or arms supplies, and Trump is actually shifting the initiative to Congress: “I don’t mind, but let Congress give me the authority.” Professor Yahodzinsky notes a certain irony in this approach.
“Even I, as someone who is rather favorable to Trump, take these statements with sarcasm. He is simply leaving a buffer zone for himself – he is supposedly ready to act, but formally he cannot without Congressional decisions,” Serhiy Yahodzinsky says
At the same time, the professor warns that an appeal to Congress is a protracted process that can take weeks or a month. And during this time, Trump can distance himself from decision-making, while maintaining the image of a politician who is allegedly “not against help.” According to Yagodzinsky, Trump still has a desire to maintain channels of communication with Putin, which is confirmed by recent signals about possible Russian responses to US actions.
Trump is probably trying to appease or retain Putin. And perhaps this address to Congress is also a diplomatic signal to Moscow: ‘I can’t do anything without congressional authorization’. It’s a political game, nothing more,” emphasizes Serhiy Yahodzinsky.
“It can be a form of diplomatic pressure. However, at the moment it is nothing more than a political declaration without concrete consequences. There is a prospect, but it is, unfortunately, still remote, summarizes Yahodzinsky.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry calls on the world to act
After another night of Russian attacks that killed and injured Ukrainian children, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry made a tough statement: Putin will not stop without international pressure.
On the night of June 5, Russian troops launched massive attacks on several Ukrainian cities. Civilians, including children, suffered as a result of the attacks. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized that the Kremlin will continue to kill without a tough response from the world.
Just yesterday, Ukraine honored the memory of children killed as a result of Russia’s armed aggression, and today Russia continues to attack Ukrainian children. Without constant international pressure, Putin will not stop. The world must respond with tougher sanctions and increased military support for Ukraine,” the Foreign Ministry said in an official statement on social media platform X.
The Ukrainian government calls on its partners not to limit themselves to diplomatic statements, but to act: to strengthen sanctions against Russia, expand military aid, and speed up the supply of weapons.
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