Donald Trump Calls Putin "Crazy": What's Next for Ukraine?

Following Russia's latest large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine, an unexpected war of words erupted. Former U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Vladimir Putin, and criticized Volodymyr Zelenskyy. What do Trump's strong words mean for the future? Is the West ready to respond?

Let's unpack the implications of Donald Trump's recent comments and the West's reaction. We'll explore what this all means for the ongoing conflict. For a deeper dive, you can watch the full discussion on Al Jazeera's Inside Story.

Trump's "Absolutely Crazy" Outburst

In a surprising social media attack, Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin "absolutely crazy." He questioned, "What the hell happened to Putin?" Trump expressed disapproval of the attacks on Ukrainian cities.

I'm not happy with what Putin's doing. He's killing a lot of people. And I don't know what the hell happened to Putin.

This statement is notable, given Donald Trump's past close ties with Putin and their recent two-hour phone call. In response, Russia dismissed Trump's remarks as "emotional overload." This public condemnation is a rare move from Trump. He has often praised his relationship with Putin.

Expert Analysis

To understand what is happening, here's what experts are saying:

Mark Storella: A Personal Reset Gone Wrong?

Mark Storella, former U.S. Ambassador, believes Trump approaches relationships personally. Putin, however, is a "trained KGB agent." Storella compares it to Trump's relationship with Kim Jong-un. There is potential for it to backfire. According to Storella, Putin is testing the waters. Trump's reaction will be crucial.

Alexey Muraviev: Leaving Breathing Space?

Alexey Muraviev, from Curtin University, suggests the "emotional overload" comment gives Trump room to back down. Muraviev notes Putin values personal chemistry with leaders. Yet, he also plans long-term, beyond Trump. Russia understands Trump won't be in office forever and plans accordingly.

Aaron Gasch Burnett: Trump Losing Patience?

Aaron Gasch Burnett, from the Democratic Strategy Initiative, thinks Trump may be realizing Putin's true goal. Putin wants to occupy all of Ukraine. Trump's reactions may stem from discovering their goals aren't aligned.

Behind Closed Doors

Is Donald Trump saying one thing publicly and another in private? It's hard to know Trump's true intentions. He tends to be outspoken. Diplomats are trained to be very careful. Is Trump following a calculated strategy, or simply reacting emotionally?

Putin's Game

Putin seems to have no interest in slowing down military advances. Russian forces retain the strategic initiative. There are reports of a "crisis of morale" in Ukraine. Russia is buying time, waiting for Ukrainian resistance to break.

Putin understands there's still room for strategic dialogue with the U.S. on many issues:

• Strategic stability
• Middle East
• Iran
• North Korea
• Arctic
• Cyberspace

Putin is confident the U.S. won't abandon strategic dialogue. He knows pressing Moscow too hard would drive Russia closer to China. Donald Trump wants to avoid this.

Trump's Lessons

Trump may be applying lessons he learned from Roy Cohn: "Always attack, never admit defeat, and always claim victory." He may retreat and blame others.

Could a blame game be on the horizon, with Trump targeting Zelenskyy or European leaders?

Zelenskyy's Criticism

Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized America's "silence" after Russia's largest air bombardment. Should he have remained silent, given Trump's previous condemnation of Russia? Burnett believes Zelenskyy was pointing out Russian hypocrisy. The attack was the worst since the war began.

Scrapping Range Limits

Germany and other allies are removing range limits on arms sent to Ukraine. This may offer a tactical advantage. But, it won't significantly impact the strategic situation. Russia will likely find countermeasures.

Aaron Gasch Burnett said it best: "This is something the scrapping of these limits is something that Ukraine has been requesting for a long time the fact that this has finally happened I mean it's it's years too late already."

Going Further

The West's approach has been too piecemeal. Are limits being lifted and sanctions threatened to constrain Russia or force Putin to negotiate? Confiscating Russia's frozen central bank reserves (around $300 billion) could be a "big game changer."

Trump's "Truth"

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he "always said" Putin wanted all of Ukraine. Macron claims Trump is realizing Putin has lied to him. Is Trump realizing he's been taken for a ride?

Storella noted, "In a way, it sounds pathetic, it's almost plaintive the way he's talking about Vladimir Putin." Putin's goal is to eliminate Ukraine as an independent country. The Russians are playing the long game. They'll wait for a better situation to advance their goals.

What do you think? Share your thoughts on Trump's approach to the conflict and its potential impact.

Conclusion

Donald Trump's words and actions create uncertainty around the future of the conflict. Will he change course? How will Putin respond? The stakes are high, and the world is watching.