The first week of Donald Trump's presidency was marked by a series of high-profile statements, including those regarding Russia.
This was reported by Taras Zahorodniy, managing partner of the National Anti-Crisis Group.
It seems that the U.S. President aims to undermine Vladimir Putin's standing within the country, presenting him with new challenges both internationally and domestically.
In his view, Trump is employing a tactic of public pressure on the Kremlin, which could lead to serious consequences for the Russian leadership.
"Trump is an experienced negotiator and understands that effective diplomacy is not about blackmail or showing dominance. He is essentially sending a signal to the Russian elites: if you want a constructive dialogue, remove Putin." , – notes the expert.
Zahorodniy points out that the Kremlin's demands, particularly regarding concessions on Ukraine or the dismantling of NATO's military infrastructure in Europe, are completely unrealistic for the West. Therefore, the White House is opting for a strategy of tough public pressure, forcing Moscow to seek a way out of the situation.
"Trump cannot and will not make concessions to the Kremlin on issues of Ukraine's territorial integrity or the sanctions regime. That is why he uses an open rhetoric that undermines Putin's position in his own country. There is already growing discontent within the Russian political establishment regarding the extremely tough and ultimatum tone of U.S. communications with Russia." , - the expert adds.
In his opinion, regardless of whether Putin agrees to negotiations, he has already found himself in a situation of public humiliation, – summarized Zahorodniy.
Earlier, Donald Trump called on OPEC countries to lower oil prices, emphasizing that this would significantly reduce Russia's income from energy exports. This is yet another element of the White House's strategy aimed at weakening the Kremlin's position on the global stage.
Source: UNIAN