Putin perceived as playing the 'injured party' following drone strike on Ukrainian airbase
The ten-day mark has passed since Donald Trump labelled Vladimir Putin as crazy, following a series of Russian attacks on Ukraine. However, it seems like Putin might be attempting to regain Trump's affections. This tactic revolves around portraying Ukraine as the aggressor, with the Kremlin emphasizing attacks on Russian civilians.
Moreover, Putin has branded Ukraine's leadership as a terrorist organization in the wake of the bombing of a highway bridge in the Bryansk region. Seven lives were lost, and several were injured, due to part of a passenger train being crushed as a result. Although no party has taken responsibility for the attack, Russia swiftly accuses Ukraine.
Traditionally, Ukraine has been labeling Russia for the last three years, yet this point was conspicuously omitted. Russia is whole-heartedly embracing the victim role, likely to turn the tables on Ukraine, present itself as the wronged party, and secure Donald Trump's approval for any potential retaliation against the drone attack on its long-range bombers.
Trump seemed to lend credence to this tactic by stating on social media post-conversation with Putin, "President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields." It's unclear whether Trump tried to dissuade Putin from retaliating, but he certainly didn't discourage it. Quite to the contrary, Trump announced Russia's response without any confirmation.
Interestingly, even though Putin spoke about the drone attack during the call, he hasn't publicly addressed the issue yet. This silence could be an attempt to avoid appearing weak while still avoiding any awkward headlines about a mishap or embarrassing episode.
Trump and Putin have a complex relationship spanning back to Trump's presidency. However, recent developments in Ukraine don't seem to have had a direct impact on their relationship, although it remains a topic of interest and speculation.
[1] Sources:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59821632https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-russia-will-engage-ukraine-when-kyiv-sincerely-wants-peace-2021-10-28/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/24/russia-ukraine-conflict-explainerhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/26/ukraine-says-it-could-escape-from-russian-influence-if-knowhow-delivered-to-withstand-attacks
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Related Topics:
- Donald Trump
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Vladimir Putin
- Despite the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, it appears that President Trump and Vladimir Putin are navigating complex politics, with both leaders maintaining a tenuous relationship.
- The political narrative around Ukraine is increasingly polarized, with each side using general-news incidents, such as the recent bombing of a highway bridge, to strengthen their respective positions, fueling the ongoing war.
