In recent days, Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Vladimir Putin. But his words have never sounded as sharp as yesterday. "The truth is, Putin is pouring a lot of nonsense on us. He's very nice all the time, but that doesn't matter", Trump commented at a cabinet meeting on July 8 in response to reporters' questions.
Putin is killing too many people, so the US will send "some defensive weapons" to Ukraine, which he had already ordered, Trump added. However, the question is why the US announced last week that it was suspending already promised weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, which are particularly important for Ukraine, the German public media outlet ARD points out.
When asked by a journalist at the White House who ordered the temporary suspension, Trump replied: "I don't know, why don't you tell me?". In this regard, ARD quoted the words of Victoria Coats, deputy national security adviser during Trump's first term, according to which the decision was made by Elbridge Colby. He is a secretary of state in the Department of Defense and is considered the most important advisor to Secretary Pete Hegsett. In an interview with "Fox News" Coats said the following: "This was part of a comprehensive review that Colby initiated," ARD reported. The decision was made after an inspection initiated by Colby into the US stockpiles following the generous arms deliveries to Ukraine made by President Joe Biden, Victoria Coates also explained to the American media.
Hegseth did not inform Trump
According to investigations by various American media, Defense Secretary Hegseth authorized the suspension of American arms deliveries without informing President Trump in advance. And he, already very angry with Putin after his last phone call with him, has reconsidered the decision in question to terminate the deliveries to Ukraine, the German publication reveals.
The question now is whether this means a final retreat from Putin. And is Trump really ready to put pressure on Russia? In this regard, ARD recalls that just a few months ago, Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of also being to blame for Russia's invasion of his country.
Michael McFaul, the US ambassador to Moscow under President Barack Obama, remains skeptical. "Trump has already understood the problem: Putin is not listening to him", he says. But he explains that all the weapons now released were already approved by President Biden's previous administration. Since Trump took office, he has not expanded these deliveries by even a single additional weapon, but has only delivered the weapons agreed upon before him to Ukraine, the diplomat quoted by ARD points out.
So far, no strengthened sanctions against Russia
Trump has also not approved any stricter economic sanctions against Russia, which a bipartisan majority of US senators from the Democratic and Republican parties have called for. At the last cabinet meeting, Trump only stated that he is now carefully considering these sanctions again. For Michael McFaul, the question remains, "Why is President Trump allowing Putin to make him look so weak?"
Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told CNN: "This administration has no real policy on Ukraine. For some time, President Trump has been talking to Putin in words: I'm very angry, that's not how it works, Vladimir, stop, ala, bala". Clark emphasizes that Trump has done nothing concrete.
During the election campaign, Trump promised to end the war as soon as he took office. Five months have passed since then, and the war continues to rage with unabated force, ARD recalls.
Author: Ralf Borchardt (ARD)