Trump may let Putin keep moving through Ukraine — U.S. diplomat Herbst

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

Herbst stated that there have been certain inconsistencies, particularly in Trump's policy, which has a significant impact on Russia's war against Ukraine. He noted that the Trump team now sought to pursue the same approach as the Obama team, aiming to revitalize relations with Russia and not viewing it as an adversary, which “was not in the interests of the United States.” However, he also mentioned that Trump genuinely wanted to end the war, and all of these actions were directed toward ensuring stability in Ukraine.

According to the American diplomat, Putin's goal is to establish effective political control over Ukraine, which contradicts Trump's policy. However, the likelihood that Trump will seek to restore relations with Russia is quite high. He might even allow Putin to make advances through Ukraine. But Trump "doesn’t want to be made a fool of," so he will respond to such situations.

Herbst pointed out that when Trump discussed restarting relations with Russia, he aimed to portray Russia not as an enemy but as a potential ally for the United States. However, when it came to Greenland, for example, Trump referred to Russia and China as his adversaries. In other words, Herbst noted, Trump categorized countries differently depending on the issue and the political context in which they became important. In his view, Trump's policy was inconsistent and lacked coherence in this regard.

“It is concerning what the Trump administration has said about the Black Sea agreement, which allows Russia to maintain its aggressive war in Ukraine," the diplomat added. "This highlights Russia's ambitions and reflects poorly on the Trump administration, revealing its vulnerabilities. However, I remain hopeful that the situation will change."

• U.S. President Donald Trump believes that Russia wants to "see an end" to the war in Ukraine and sign a peace agreement, but they are likely "dragging their feet."