**Trump’s Failing to Force Putin’s Hand: Experts Stumped on Red Lines**
U.S. President Donald Trump has been vocal about his displeasure with Russia‘s ongoing war in Ukraine, but he has yet to take concrete action to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into agreeing to a full ceasefire.
Despite having various forms of leverage at his disposal – including increasing military aid to Ukraine, strengthening sanctions enforcement, or imposing tariffs on countries buying Russian oil – Trump has chosen not to use them. Instead, he’s stuck to making angry statements while allowing the war to continue unabated.
This failure to act has left many wondering whether Trump actually has a “red line” with Russia, beyond which Putin would be forced to face consequences. The Kyiv Independent spoke with three experts on this topic and got varying answers.
**A Lack of Red Line**
According to Ivo Daalder, a political scientist and former U.S. permanent representative to NATO, it’s unclear whether Trump has a red line when it comes to Russian actions. “Aside from saying he would be ‘pissed off’ if Putin refused to end the war, his administration has taken positions that clearly favor Russia,” Daalder noted.
This includes blaming Ukraine for starting the conflict, conceding the Russian narrative on Crimea and annexed territories, excluding the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO, and seeking to recoup past expenditures by seizing Ukraine’s mineral wealth. “Rather than drawing a clear red line, Trump is more likely to tire from the conflict and move on to other matters,” Daalder said.
**Unpredictability Reigns Supreme**
Mariana Budjeryn, senior research associate at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Project on Managing the Atom (MTA), expressed uncertainty about the White House‘s stance on red lines. “Unpredictability seems to be the name of the game with the current administration,” she said.
Budjeryn noted that Trump initially aimed to impose a ceasefire and negotiate an end-of-war settlement, but it’s proving harder than expected, as Russia refuses to abandon its maximalist goals. “What is happening here is not exactly Russia crossing Trump’s red lines but rather upsetting Trump’s plans for quick war termination,” she explained.
**A Game of Cards**
Russian political expert Jenny Mathers, a lecturer at Aberystwyth University in the U.K., opined that Trump doesn’t seem to care about Putin’s brutality against Ukraine. “These things just don’t register with Trump as Putin’s crimes since he seems to blame Ukraine for not giving in to Putin,” she said.
However, if Putin were to make Trump look foolish or publicly humiliate him, the situation might change. “Trump would be a different person,” Mathers noted. For now, though, it appears that Trump is willing to accept any behavior from Putin without retaliation.
As one observer noted, Trump’s reaction to being annoyed with Putin for not being ready for a peace deal was to quickly walk back his comment. This suggests that he realizes he’s being played and that Putin is using delaying tactics to get what he wants – but still regards this as clever, much like a card sharp admiring the skill of another.
**A Question Still Unanswered**
Despite these expert opinions, one thing remains clear: Trump’s failure to force Putin’s hand has left many wondering whether there’s actually a red line with Russia. As Budjeryn noted, “All three options – doubling down, turning against Russia, or refocusing attention elsewhere – are feasible.” The question of what might finally prompt Trump to take decisive action remains unanswered.
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