Just three months after praising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump has shifted his stance back toward Russia.
The Washington Post reported on October 20 that this change is linked to rising fuel prices and the upcoming midterm elections, which have prompted Trump to reconsider his position.
According to the Post, Trump appeared to support Ukraine as recently as July, commending Zelensky and endorsing strikes on Russian oil facilities. At that time, Trump described these actions as "escalation that could help end the war."
The turning point came with rising fuel prices. The Post noted that as tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated, leading to increased oil prices, the Trump administration abruptly changed its tone. On August 31, Treasury Secretary Scott Vessenet met with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov during a G20 event in North Carolina, attributing the surge in fuel prices not to the conflict in Iran but to Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil facilities.
Analysts suggest that President Putin seized this opportunity. The Post cited sources indicating that Putin proposed a deal for Russian diesel in response to Trump's declining approval ratings and rising energy costs. However, this offer amounted to only a fraction of U.S. daily consumption and failed to lower prices significantly. The average price of diesel in the U.S. rose to $6.33 per gallon last week, up about five cents from the previous week.
Russia views this as a diplomatic victory. A Russian scholar close to high-ranking diplomats stated that events unfolded after a conversation between the two leaders, suggesting that Putin successfully persuaded Trump. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev posted "Checkmate" on social media.
Opposition figures share a similar interpretation. Exiled Russian opposition leader Mikhail Khodorkovsky described the Russian leadership as "opportunistic," asserting that Trump took advantage of a moment when he appeared weaker. He argued that the current situation signals to Putin that the West is vulnerable.
Criticism has emerged within the U.S. Daniel Fried, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs under President George W. Bush, told the Post that Trump was merely seeking a narrative to lower diesel prices ahead of the midterms. He noted that Zelensky's public criticism of Trump as "weak" following the diesel deal announcement further fueled resentment. Fried pointed out that both leaders share a worldview where the strong divide spheres of influence, suggesting that Ukraine has become a strategically expendable asset for Trump.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.