“Unless we reach a ‘deal,’ and soon, Russia will have no choice but to impose high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on everything it sells to the United States and various other participating countries.” Donald. US President Trump said this in a rambling statement. real social posts January 22nd, two days after returning to office as president.
President Trump has boasted for years that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in a day.
Ahead of Trump’s expected phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the new US president’s comments express mixed feelings, praising and condemning Russia. He denounces the so-called “Russia hoax” (claims that Russia interfered in the 2016 election on his behalf) and points to Russia’s contribution to the Allied victory in World War II, but As a result, they argue, Russia’s economy is failing under Putin’s regime. About a “stupid” war.
Russia’s first official response to the message read: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: At a press conference on January 23, he said, “I don’t see anything particularly new. As you know, President Trump was the American president who most frequently resorted to sanctions when he first took office.” He said he was ready for an “equal and respectful” dialogue. Peskov also said that no preparations have been made for a meeting between Trump and Putin.
This is a change from Peskov’s previous comments. January: “We see that Mr. Trump has declared that he is ready to solve the problem through dialogue. We welcome that.”
Russian commentator I haven’t seen it Trump’s latest truth social post as an olive branch.
Meanwhile, Central Asian governments are certainly paying close attention to the rhetoric flying between Russia and the United States, trying to determine their own path forward.
The previous US administration under President Joe Biden took a cautious approach to sanctions targeting Central Asian countries involved in circumventing restrictions imposed on Russia. There is no doubt that Central Asian businesses and elites have benefited from the war’s reshaping of Eurasian trade routes. On the one hand, Western countries are increasingly paying attention to routes such as the Intermediate Corridor, which bypasses Russia. Meanwhile, Central Asia remains a major trade node with Russia. In both cases, Central Asia will benefit. this is Reflected in regional trade statistics.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a small number of Central Asian companies have been subject to secondary sanctions, but there has been no widespread damage to the region’s economy. The Biden administration accepted Central Asia’s difficult geopolitical position and sought to find subtle ways to restrict Russia through sanctions without alienating Central Asian governments.
Trump is not known for making such sensitive policy decisions. Rather, his “America First” ideology is steeped in nationalism and transactional attitudes and may not provide room for such a careful diplomatic dance.
President Trump has long boasted that he could quickly end the war between Russia and Ukraine. in CNN City Hall In May 2023, President Trump was asked if he would provide arms and money to Ukraine if re-elected. He replied, “If I were president, that war would be resolved within a day, within 24 hours.”
When pressed, he said he would meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. President Trump said, “Both countries have weaknesses, but they also have strengths.” “And within 24 hours the war will be resolved. It’s over. It’s definitely over.”
At the time, President Trump did not directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to “win” the war. Instead, he shifted the conversation to his belief that Europe should contribute more to the war effort. “I want Europe to spend more money,” he said.
On the campaign trail, Trump reiterated his claim that he could force an end to the war, but gave no concrete plans for how he would do so. He also expressed a broader belief that America’s allies, from NATO to Pacific nations, should pay more.
Translating this attitude to U.S. relations with Central Asia, if efforts to bring Putin and Zelensky to the negotiating table fail, President Trump could demand that regional countries “do more” regarding Russia. There are enough.
A lot will depend on what the next conversation between Trump and Putin goes, and what conversation Trump ends up having with Zelensky after that. It will not be easy to break out of the current situation and it will definitely take more than 24 hours.