On July 10, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-58) in Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia. This was the second inter-ministerial contact this year, after the first meeting in Riyadh in February. According to Secretary of State Rubio, although topics other than Ukraine were also mentioned, “the resolution of the armed conflict” remained the top priority. He stressed that President Donald Trump was “frustrated and upset that Russia is no longer flexible.”
Observers say the criticisms are not isolated, but part of a series of moves that reflect the Trump administration’s complex stance on the war in Ukraine. A day before the meeting, CNN released recordings from 2024, recording President Trump’s statements during campaign events, in which he recounted threatening to “bomb Moscow” and “bomb Beijing” when talking to Russian and Chinese leaders. While the statement was shocking, it should be put in the context of a meeting with donors, where Mr. Trump often tends to show the image of a tough leader. The Kremlin also reacted cautiously, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioning the authenticity of the recordings.
Notably, these statements are not entirely new. The Washington Post reported similar statements from President Trump in May 2024, although there was no recording at the time. The timing of the tapes’ release, when Trump’s attitude toward the Ukraine war is showing signs of changing, has drawn even more attention from observers and the public.
Strategic Adjustment: From Engagement to Limitation
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has reportedly considered three approaches to the Ukraine conflict: (1) Actively push for a ceasefire and a peace deal. (2) Walk away from the crisis if it is clear that short-term results are not possible. (3) Continue to maintain the engagement policy as under the previous administration of Joe Biden.
Recent signals suggest that President Trump is moving toward the latter option. The resumption of military assistance to Ukraine on July 8—limited to defense systems—is a compromise move. It shows that Washington is not completely backing down, but does not imply an increase in military pressure on Moscow. At the same time, Trump’s public dissatisfaction with the progress of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, but his lack of pressure on Kiev to make concessions, reflects his intention to play the role of mediator rather than direct intervenor.
Punitive stance: Tough on words, cautious on actions
President Trump and his advisers have also not ruled out imposing further sanctions on Russia. One notable proposal is an import tariff of up to 500% on countries that continue to import oil, gas, uranium and energy products from Russia. However, to implement this policy, Mr. Trump needs consensus from Congress - which is still pending - and coordination with European partners, where positions are still divided. Moreover, Mr. Trump himself admitted in June that previous sanctions have caused significant damage to the US economy, especially in the context of inflation and global supply chain instability that have not been fully controlled.
Calculated Distance Strategy
According to Konstantin Sukhoverkhov, program director at the Russian International Affairs Council, the above developments show that President Trump is gradually distancing the US from its deep involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. His administration remains committed to supporting Kiev, but at a limited level, mainly focusing on defense assistance and diplomatic pressure. Avoiding more direct pressure on Moscow reflects Trump’s desire to maintain relative neutrality – both to maintain the image of a tough leader at home and to avoid being drawn into a protracted conflict like Afghanistan.
As US foreign policy shifts toward the Indo-Pacific, Washington’s priorities under President Trump may no longer be as focused on Eastern Europe. Threats to Moscow – whether in the form of tough rhetoric or sanctions – may be part of a “bargaining” strategy to push for negotiations, rather than reflecting a consistent confrontational stance.
However, President Trump’s impatience with the peace process, which requires time and long-term political stability, is becoming increasingly evident. This could lead to a period of unclear US-Ukraine policy, and further complicate the war situation in the coming time.
Hung Anh (Contributor)
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/my-nga-tiep-tuc-doi-thoai-tin-hieu-thay-doi-trong-lap-truong-cua-washington-ve-ukraine-254562.htm
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