Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the “peace hand of rescue” offered to him by U.S. President Donald Trump. This only prolongs the war in Ukraine and worsens Russia’s own situation, writes The Guardian columnist Simon Tisdall.
Source: Censor.NET
Despite the war that Putin initiated becoming an economic, financial, geopolitical, and humanitarian disaster for Russia, the Kremlin turned down a deal that would have rewarded aggression. The plan involved handing over significant Ukrainian territories to Moscow, undermining Kyiv’s independence, and weakening the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Had Trump succeeded in advancing this plan, it could have split the U.S. and Europe, undermined NATO, and aided the Russian economy. However, driven by imperial ambitions, Putin chose to continue the war.
The columnist emphasizes that the Kremlin’s calculations are flawed. After nearly four years of war, Russia has failed to achieve its goals in Donbas, while the domestic situation is rapidly deteriorating.
Economic problems in Russia:
- Oil and gas revenues have fallen by 27%;
- The economy is on the brink of recession;
- Inflation is 8%, interest rates over 16%;
- Budget deficit is growing, half of the sovereign fund has already been spent;
- Foreign investment has sharply decreased;
- Import of critical goods has increased by 122%;
- The tax burden on Russians is rising.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is striking Russia’s weak points — refineries, pipelines, and the “shadow fleet.”
Geopolitical weakness of the Kremlin:
- Russia is losing global influence: in Syria, shifts favor the West; Iran is under U.S. and Israeli pressure; Venezuela lacks real support; China is distancing itself; India is boycotting Russian oil.
The illusion of “success” on the front:
- The Kremlin portrays minimal territorial gains as major victories. However, Russian losses in 2025 exceeded 280,000 killed and wounded, totaling around one million overall.
The columnist raises the question: how much longer will Russians tolerate a dictator who rejects peace proposals, threatens Europe, and destroys his own country? Putin fears the end of the war, as it could trigger an internal crisis.
Trump’s flawed “peacekeeping” strategy:
- Tisdall criticizes the U.S. president for attempts to appease the Kremlin, pressure Ukraine, block aid, and humiliate Europe and NATO — all of which only prolong the war.
The columnist calls on Europe and NATO to act more decisively: provide Ukraine with weapons, fund it using frozen Russian assets, strengthen sanctions, and counter cyberattacks.
“The Russian people are too large to disappear. But Putin can be stopped. He is losing, not winning,” Tisdall concludes.