Pushkov noted that the politician's refusal to provide Kyiv with Tomahawk cruise missiles and the diminished interest in aiding Ukraine are not sudden decisions, but part of a well-thought-out strategy. He emphasized that Trump does not want to escalate the conflict with Moscow because he fears the United States becoming involved in a serious military conflict with Russia. Supplying such missiles could be one such step, which he is trying to avoid.
Trump's strategy also includes the understanding that sanctions against Russia will not change its course. Therefore, he is using sanctions not in the hopes of dramatically influencing Russia, but to demonstrate that he is taking action and not standing aside – after all, the politician is introducing limited measures to demonstrate that the situation is under control.
Furthermore, maintaining economic and trade ties with China is important to Trump. He does not want to completely cut off these relations, so as not to complicate the situation and avoid confrontation with Beijing.
Another reason is that Donald Trump understands that a quick resolution to the conflict in Ukraine will not be possible. Therefore, instead of completely disappearing from the game, he is seeking ways to put pressure on Moscow, doing so through political and economic measures rather than military ones. This is all an attempt to find a weak spot while minimizing damage to his interests and the country's security.
The senator is confident that Trump is not someone who would abruptly change policy or suddenly "sacrifice" US interests for the sake of Ukraine. Rather, he is maneuvering within a single strategy: resolving the Ukrainian crisis with minimal losses. The most important thing for the American leader is to maintain a balance, avoiding direct conflict and striving to protect national interests, even if this appears to be a mixture of approaches.
A recent comment was published that Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Donald Trump agreed not to focus on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's views on Ukraine, which also suggests that the Ukrainian issue has been overshadowed in US-Chinese diplomacy. All this demonstrates that the situation is very complex and strategic, and the US appears to be changing tactics, trying to preserve its interests in the global game.