Donald Trump's threats against Moscow are unlikely to influence Putin's decision to stop the war in Ukraine, according to the well-known American media outlet, the Wall Street Journal, citing internal Kremlin sources.
Putin's inner circle has reason to view Trump's threat as empty. While the war has drained the country's resources and manpower, the Kremlin believes it has successfully resisted sanctions and that Moscow has the capacity to withstand at least another year of conflict, as Russians continue to sign up to serve on the front lines.
The WSJ points out that, although Russia is losing money and men, it has enough of its own resources to continue the war for now. Russian forces have been slowly advancing westward through Ukraine, threatening cities and towns that are important logistical hubs for the Ukrainian military. They now control almost a fifth of the country, writes A2 CNN.
"We don't see anything new here," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, a day after Trump went on Truth Social to warn that he would be ready to increase economic pressure on Moscow after a series of sanctions were applied following its invasion.
With another US aid package for Ukraine off the table, Trump's warning appears to be too little to force a change in Russia's basic demands, which include de facto recognition of the land they have gained, an end to NATO-Ukraine ties, and a major reduction in the Ukrainian military.
Analysts say Putin is likely to treat the latest warning from Trump as a ploy by the new US president to support and demonstrate the tough stance he has promised regarding US adversaries.
“Putin sees these statements as part of a political game. He doesn’t take them seriously,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a political scientist in Paris. “He is ready for any scenario and has no illusions that an agreement will come soon.”
Political analysts suggest that Trump's threat of new sanctions reflects his realization that a deal may take some time - and could also push Russia further away from the negotiating table. (A2 Televizion)
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