Trumps STOP is like Bidens Dont empty threats to a dictator

Remember when Joe Biden was facing off against Vladimir Putin?Questioned about the Russian leader’s threats, old Joe memorably said: “Don’t.” Take that Vladimir.On another occasion, a year into the war, Biden got really tough: “I don’t have time” he warned Putin, before saying that the Russian dictator had made a “Big mistake.” Oof.But today, President Trump continued Biden’s approach.His reaction to one of the biggest missile attacks in the past year was to tell Vladimir Putin: “STOP.”As if Putin is listening.Seven weeks ago, on March 7th, Trump wrote that Russia was absolutely “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield.

In response, he said: “I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.” He threatened to do this unless Russia and Ukraine “get to the table right now, before it is too late.”The US President hoped that his Russian counterpart would respect some red lines.After speaking with the Russian President on March 18th Trump wrote that they had “agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure.”Yet no sooner had Trump said this than Putin ordered one of the biggest strikes to date on Ukraine’s energy facilities.On March 30, Trump told NBC News that if Russia proved “unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine” then he — Trump — was “going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia.”Since then US trade tariffs have been announced against almost every country on earth.

Apart from Russia.There is a good argument for Trump’s tariffs.The president, his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others have been making that case.

But when it comes to any threats against Russia there hasn’t been one that the US administration has followed up on.Perhaps this is why the Kremlin seems to be defying President Trump time and time again.Vladimir Putin knows...