Macron and Starmer successfully persuaded Trump to reconsider his stance towards Putin, as reported by Politico.
Heads Up: It looks like the UK Prime Minister and French President have been working behind the scenes to get President Trump to switch his tune on Russian leader Vladimir Putin!
Here's the scoop: Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron have been pulling some diplomatic moves for several months now, trying to convince Trump to cool it on Volodymyr Zelensky and crank up the heat on Putin. Their argument? Putin's ongoing disregard for the ceasefire he claims to uphold is making Trump look foolish.
And it seems like their strategy is working! Trump's recently been sounding off on Putin's military actions, stating he's "not pleased" about missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. This is a significant shift from his past claims of having "solid relations" with the Russian leader.
The heavyweights behind this diplomatic dance include UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell and Defense Secretary John Healey, who've been working hand-in-hand with US Ambassador to the UK Mark Burnett. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also been in touch with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio a whopping 13 times this year.
So, what does this all mean? Well, Trump's administration is still keen on a US-Russia reset, even suspending military aid to Ukraine back in March. But Trump's tougher stance on Putin suggests European pressure contributed to a change in his public messaging. However, it's unclear if this will translate into substantial policy shifts given ongoing bilateral US-Russia negotiations excluding Ukrainian input.
As always, remember, this is just the latest chapter in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates!
[1] Politico[2] Source: citing sources in European governments on condition of anonymity[3] Suspension of Military Aid to Ukraine[4] Confirmation of Discussions from an unnamed French official[5] Tougher Stance on Putin: Trump's Statements on Social Media
- The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron have been attempting to redirect President Trump's focus from Volodymyr Zelensky to Vladimir Putin, sustained by their disrespect for Putin's disregard for the ceasefire he claims to uphold.
- This diplomatic maneuvering has led to a noticeable shift in Trump's stance on Putin, evidenced by his recent displeasure expressed over missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
- The diplomatic dance includes key players such as UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell, Defense Secretary John Healey, US Ambassador to the UK Mark Burnett, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Despite the current tougher stance on Putin, Trump's administration still appears committed to a US-Russia reset, as shown by the suspension of military aid to Ukraine in March.
- The future policy direction remains unclear, as ongoing bilateral US-Russia negotiations exclude Ukrainian input, making it uncertain if this shift in public messaging will translate into substantial policy shifts.
