Donald Trump had only just taken office as President of the United States when he immediately began making complaints against Canada, Mexico, Panama, and Denmark.
As for Ukraine, his behavior appears outright brazen and cynical.
Today, Trump has openly sided with Russia, distorting facts and making unfounded accusations against Ukraine and its current president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Some political experts have already begun speculating that Trump aspires to be a dictator and is therefore trying to emulate Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump seems to have a poor grasp of history and has forgotten the threat that the Soviet Union once posed to the United States. Not so long ago, Ukraine was home to missile launch sites with nuclear warheads aimed at Paris, London, Berlin, and Washington. If Russia is allowed to conquer Ukraine, history could repeat itself. The abandoned missile silos would not be difficult to restore, and with the help of mobilized Ukrainian specialists, they could be brought back into operation.
If Trump fails to grasp this, the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom soberly assess the challenges and threats already looming over Europe. They fully understand why Putin attacked Ukraine and are well aware of what will happen next if Russia conquers Ukraine and restores the global influence it had during the Soviet era.
Trump does not understand the mentality of the Russians, nor that of Putin himself. To the average “orc” (a derogatory term for Russian soldiers), Americans are “pindosy”—eternal enemies. Russian propaganda has been instilling this idea daily for the past 100 years. Therefore, no one, not even a dictator like Putin, will be able to quickly convince them otherwise.
As for Putin himself, he likely sees Trump as just another gullible fool, someone he can manipulate and deceive in pursuit of Russia’s imperial ambitions. This is something that all Europeans and Russia’s closest neighbors understand well.
Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron made his stance on Russia’s aggressive foreign policy clear, stating that under no circumstances would his country abandon its military support for Ukraine. Other EU leaders have also expressed their solidarity with Ukraine, arriving in Kyiv today on an official visit.
As for Trump’s flamboyant behavior—not only on the international stage but also within his own country—it is likely that many Americans also disapprove of his authoritarian tendencies and attempts to don a royal crown. History shows that Americans are not particularly fond of dictators or kings, especially self-proclaimed ones. In this regard, they are more like Ukrainians.
If a “Maidan” were to erupt in Washington, Trump would resemble Yanukovych more than Putin. In that case, the President of a great power could quickly turn into yet another failed dictator, seeking refuge and political asylum from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un or Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Oleh Bereziuk
Institute for Global Politics
