Trump Shocks Allies with Sharp Reversal on Ukraine and Russia
In a major shift from his earlier stance, former President Donald Trump has adopted a significantly tougher position on Russia’s war in Ukraine—surprising both allies and critics. Once skeptical of U.S. military aid to Kyiv and an advocate of a non-interventionist “America First” approach, Trump is now calling for stronger economic pressure on Russia and has even raised the prospect of long-range Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory.
Throughout his 2024 campaign and into the early days of his second term, Trump repeatedly criticized U.S. spending on foreign conflicts, arguing that funds should be redirected toward domestic priorities. He questioned the necessity of continued military aid to Ukraine and initially avoided labeling Russia as the clear aggressor in the conflict—positions that drew bipartisan concern in Washington.
That posture changed dramatically this month. Trump announced that the U.S. would impose steep “100 percent secondary tariffs” on any country continuing to trade with Russia unless a peace agreement is reached within 50 days. He directly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for rejecting ceasefire proposals and pledged stronger economic consequences designed to “make them feel the pain.”
Continue reading on the next page…