Putin treats Trump like operative treats agent — ex-Kazakh intelligence chief

This view was expressed by Major General Alnur Musayev, a former Soviet and Kazakhstani intelligence official and head of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee from 1999 to 2001, who is now an opposition figure and political emigrant. He shared his opinion in an interview with Anton Borkovskyi, host of Studio West on Espreso TV.

“Putin behaves with Trump like an operative dealing with an agent: on one hand, he flatters Trump and says nice things, but in reality, he pursues his own agenda. Since Trump serves as his source of information — like an agent-informant — Putin treats him with great contempt. It’s clear that while Putin speaks nicely with the American president, and Trump appreciates this, Putin completely disregards Trump’s interests. He treats Trump as a subordinate and thus ignores his concerns entirely,” the general noted.

According to Musayev, Trump could genuinely get angry with Putin, provide Ukraine with weapons, tighten sanctions against Russia, or even take other measures — but he simply cannot. In their relationship, Putin is the leader and Trump the subordinate; this dynamic is evident in every aspect.

That is why Putin acts as he does: on one hand, he flatters Trump and appears to support his desire for alignment, but on the other, he completely disregards Trump’s interests.

“Trump’s goal is to be a peacemaker, to achieve a truce, and address other related issues — this is all public knowledge. Putin, however, is playing his own game and does not care about Trump’s interests,” Musayev concluded.

• On July 14, Donald Trump announced plans to impose secondary tariffs on Russia — potentially up to 100% — if a peace agreement with Ukraine is not reached within 50 days.