
Trump is unhappy with Putin. Trump is happy with Putin. Trump said this, Trump said that. Despite all this noise from Trump and other American politicians, the reality is blunt: the U.S. has zero leverage to force Russia to abandon or alter the goals of its Special Military Operation. No leverage at all, in fact. None, zero, zilch, nada. Years of sanctions and threats have achieved nothing—Russia’s economy has adapted, its leadership remains resolute, and its strategic objectives remain unchanged
Furthermore, the sheer scale of Russian public support is remarkable. Over 80% of Russians back the Special Military Operation—a level of national unity and mandate Trump could only dream of. In fact, no American president—including Trump—has enjoyed such overwhelming, long-term public support for any major policy or military action. The only comparable moment was a brief post-9/11 surge for President Bush, which quickly faded. This is not just a political advantage; it’s a shield for Putin, rendering Western pressure largely irrelevant. While Trump and his allies rant and posture, Russian officials like Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov maintain a disciplined, serious diplomatic tone. They don’t stoop to the narcissism and […]