By Matt Underwood Russia “didn’t care” about Trump’s weapons for Ukraine, tariff threats, an official says – well, that’s what the narrative seems to be. But let’s unpack that. The official’s assessment suggests a dismissive attitude, yet the subtext hints at something more complex. It’s not as simple as Russia shrugging off Trump’s actions. The reality is likely far more layered.
They certainly didn’t care about the weapons, did they? It appears the initial hesitation to supply Ukraine with the arms they desperately needed, a delay during Trump’s presidency, was a golden opportunity for Russia. This initial stalling completely hampered Ukraine’s defense, effectively crippling any chance for a successful counteroffensive into the region of Kursk. Essentially, Trump’s approach handed a strategic advantage to Russia by crippling the defensive capabilities of Ukraine and allowing the war to become more of a one-sided affair.
They could care less what Trump says. It seems, once Trump was done, there was nothing left for him to do. His actions, or inactions, were already set in stone. Historically, this will be noted. What does America buy from Russia anyway? That’s a fair question. It appears to be a matter of public knowledge, but perhaps not for everyone. It seems like there are other things going on with Trump. His threats aren’t effective, and he is considered pathetic. Why would Russia be intimidated? With the backing of powerful allies, any threats seem hollow. It is a dangerous game, a potential clash of military forces that only someone truly misguided would want.
The Epstein list. Yeah, that’s a recurring theme. It’s almost as though the Russian side tried to use the mention of the Epstein list to cause problems for Trump. It seems that, despite the public stance of indifference, there was, in fact, a calculated effort to influence perceptions. They even tried to turn his supporters against him. This indicates a level of concern and perhaps even a degree of anger and fear beneath the surface.
And as to the tariffs? Again, the idea is that it doesn’t matter. Russia exports little to the U.S., and those exports are negligible to their GDP. It is such a small amount. The real impact of such things is the effect on their trading partners. Russia’s trade with China, India, and other nations becomes the real point of leverage, the places where sanctions are enforced.
The weapons, mostly defensive, and the tariffs, mainly ineffective, they just don’t bother Russia. These threats seem inconsequential. Trump’s words have little weight, while the actions of others are far more important. The threats are like breaking someone’s fingers after their hand has already been cut off.