US tariff threat leaves Russia less shaken than relieved

In the Oval Cabinet on Monday, Donald Trump spoke hard by announcing new US weapons of Ukraine paid by European governments and threatening new tariffs Which, if imposed, would hit Russia’s war.

But back in Moscow, how does the stock exchange react? It increased by 2.7%.

This is because Russia was obeying even more strengthened sanctions than President Trump.

“Russia and America are moving to a new circle of confrontation over Ukraine,” warned the magazine of the tabloid of Moscow Komsomoletti.

“Trump’s surprise on Monday will not be pleasant for our country.”

It was not “pleasant”. But Russia will be relieved, for example, that secondary tariffs against trading partners in Russia will start only in 50 days.

This gives Moscow plenty of time to come up with a counter and delay the implementation of sanctions even more.

Nevertheless, Donald Trump’s message is a more difficult approach to Russia.

He also reflects his disappointment with Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to sign a peaceful deal.

Upon his return to the White House in January, Donald Trump has stopped the war of Russia in Ukraine, one of his foreign policy priorities.

For months, Moscow’s answer was: “Yes, but …”

Yes, Russia said in March, when it welcomed President Trump’s proposal for a thorough termination of fire. But first, she said that Western military assistance and sharing intelligence with Kiev should be completed with the Ukrainian military mobilization.

Yes, Moscow insists that she wants peace. But the “root causes” of the war must first be resolved. The Kremlin looks at this much different from how Ukraine and the West see them. He claims that the war is the result of external threats to Russia’s security: from Kiev, NATO, the “collective West”.

Yet in February 2022 it is not Ukraine, NATO or the West invaded Russia. It was Moscow who began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which sparked the largest ground war in Europe after World War II.

For a long time, the approach “Yes, but …” allowed Moscow to avoid additional US sanctions, while continuing to pursue the war. Those wishing to improve bilateral relations with Russia and negotiate a peaceful deal for Ukraine, Trump’s administration prioritizes carrots to stick to their conversations with Russian employees.

The Kremlin critics warned that with “Yes but” … Russia was playing for time. But President Trump hoped he could find a way to persuade Vladimir Putin to make a deal.

The Russian president appeared without a hurry to do so. The Kremlin believes that it is leading the initiative to the battlefield. She insists she wants peace, but under her conditions.

These terms include the termination of the shipments of Western weapons to Ukraine. It is clear from Donald Trump’s message that it will not happen.

President Trump claims he is not satisfied with Vladimir Putin.

But disappointment is a two -way street. Russia also falls in love with the President of America. On Monday, Moscow Komsomoletti wrote:

“(Trump) Obviously there are delusions of greatness. And a very big mouth.”