Even before taking office in January, Donald Trump had begun trying to force . . . sorry, negotiate . . . a peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine. He campaigned on a promise that he was the only person in the world who could succeed in doing just that . . . and that he could accomplish it within 24 hours of taking office.

Well, he’s had over 100 days, and he’s still trying to juggle Russia’s outrageous demands with one hand, and Ukraine’s refusal to simply lie down, and allow itself to be raped, with the other. And he’s finding it more difficult than he had ever imagined to keep his balls up in the air.

For three months, Trump has clearly exhibited a strong preference for Russian President Vladimir Putin, while denigrating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at every opportunity. He has pressed Ukraine to give away 20% of its territory, and to forego any hope of ever joining NATO. And in return, he has tried to convince Zelensky that it would be a tremendous “concession” on Putin’s part merely to end the war he started — no withdrawal from occupied land, no restitution . . . nothing more.

But Putin isn’t satisfied with nearly everything; he wants the whole enchilada. And so he has stalled, and stalled, and stalled some more, while his murderous attacks continue killing and wounding Ukrainian civilians, and thousands of kidnapped Ukrainian children remain in his “re-education camps.” But he screams “terrorism” as he declares the killing of one of his officers in Moscow to be the work of Ukrainian intelligence.

Lately, though, Trump’s tone has moderated a bit; in fact, he has expressed impatience with Putin’s stalling, warning that he would pull out of negotiations if there were no appreciable progress . . . and soon. His vice-president, JD Vance, has said that while he was optimistic about securing a ceasefire, it would ultimately be up to Kyiv and Moscow:

“They’re the ones who have to take the final step. [It is] going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other’s terms for peace are. It’s going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict. It’s not going anywhere … It’s not going to end any time soon.” [RFE/RL, May 2, 2025.]

And on Thursday, Trump and Zelensky, through their respective representatives, finally signed a modified mineral rights agreement that was considerably more favorable to Ukraine than the original deal offered by Trump earlier this year. It still requires ratification by the Ukrainian Parliament, and there are a number of fine points that need to be ironed out. But it appears to be a major step forward, specifically setting forth U.S. “support for Ukraine’s security, prosperity, reconstruction, and integration into global economic frameworks, [and a] long-term strategic alignment” between Washington and Kyiv. [Id.]

Not surprisingly, Moscow is clearly unhappy at this turn of events. In a post on Telegram, Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-connected lawmaker, called it a “Big Deal,” saying it was bad for Moscow:

“The fact is that the Big Deal will shift the US position away from Russia and towards Zelenskyy.” [Id.]

But U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it sent a clear message to Moscow:

“This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.” [Id.]

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So what does it all portend for the future? I’d be surprised if anyone would seriously try to second-guess either Putin, who remains steadfastly committed to his ever-increasing demands, or Trump, who is as mercurial as the weather . . . and who — even now, as I write these words — could very well be lying in bed, plotting an entirely new tactic.

But how long can he keep up the juggling act before it becomes painfully obvious, even to him, that he is simply not the showman he thinks he is?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/3/25