Here are some highlights.
Russia's Outrageous Reaction to Trump's Comments
The reaction from Russia has been entirely predictable—almost like a grand celebration. Perhaps the most striking response came from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who now serves as the vice chairman of the Security Council. In a particularly inflammatory statement, he wrote:
"For the first time, Trump told the cocaine clown the truth to his face. The Kyiv regime is playing with World War III, and the ungrateful pig got a firm slap from the masters of the pigsty. This is useful, but not enough—the military aid to the Nazi machine must be stopped."
This quote encapsulates the overall tone of Russia’s response. They are elated, reveling in the moment as if it were a major victory—perhaps even more than they had anticipated.
Putin's Strategic Play in Ukraine
At this moment, Zelensky has left, and there is no agreement on rare earth minerals—not that such a deal would have made a significant difference either way. The bigger question remains: what happens next? It's not entirely inconceivable that U.S. aid to Ukraine could come to a complete halt. And then where does that leave us?
At the same time, there's a certain tragic inevitability to this situation. If we had spoken yesterday, I would have told you that any meaningful ceasefire or successful peace negotiations were doomed from the start. It was never a real possibility. What's ironic is that Putin played along from the beginning, pretending to be open to negotiations. But in reality, stopping the war is not in his interest—he doesn’t want it to end. He’s perfectly content to sit at the negotiating table for as long as necessary, as long as it serves his purposes.
This was evident in Riyadh, where the Russian delegation’s approach was particularly telling. Their main focus was to separate discussions about Ukraine from broader U.S.-Russia relations. Their priority isn’t Ukraine—it’s getting sanctions lifted and restoring better ties with Washington. Ukraine is a secondary concern for them. Putin is willing to talk about Ukraine, but he knows the reality of the situation.
Zelensky's Diplomacy Challenge
We know that he is a courageous wartime leader, and aside from today's events, he has consistently projected strength. He is also a highly effective media figure. But when it comes to diplomacy, that’s a more difficult question. The situation is at a deadlock, and I can't imagine him returning, humbled and apologetic. He is bound by the role he has taken on—there is no turning back.
Trump's Surprising Popularity in Russia
I’ve been closely monitoring everything happening in Moscow, in Russian media, and in state propaganda. What’s striking is how ecstatic they are. For years, Russian propaganda has poured immense effort and resources into vilifying Americans, spinning conspiracy theories, and blaming the U.S. for everything. Yet now, they couldn’t be happier.
Trump has become the most popular figure in Russia. In fact, there have even been reports of newborns being named after him. At least two cases were reported in Siberia—parents were so thrilled that they named their children Trump.
Putin's Reluctance to End the War
The real issue is that everyone understands that the only person who doesn’t want this war to end is Putin. That remains the sole obstacle. But he’s willing to play along, to keep up the pretense for as long as necessary. He will never outright refuse negotiations because he knows the process can never truly reach a conclusion. If there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s unreachable—because a real resolution is impossible. Yet, as long as he pretends to be moving toward it, everything stays just as he wants.
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