Headlines hit with the frequency of missiles. Russia’s war against Ukraine grinds on despite the Trump administration’s efforts at obtaining a peace favorable to Russia’s interests.

Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least eight people, wounding more than 70 and smashing buildings in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year. The attack set off fires and six children were among the wounded, with some people still trapped under rubble, the officials said.
(“Trump tells Putin to ‘STOP’ after Russian attacks kills 10 in Kyiv,”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/air-defence-units-action-around-221017902.html)

Trump is presenting this as a kind-hearted effort to end three years of horrific war in a land far from American soil. But to European eyes, Trump is rewarding Putin’s murderous aggression with multiple strategic wins. And European diplomats fear it will buy an ailing Russia time to regroup, re-arm and ultimately finish the job. Memories of the failed appeasement of Adolf Hitler do not fade easily.
(“Playbook: Trump demands peace. Putin bombs Kyiv,”
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2025/04/24/trump-demands-peace-putin-bombs-kyiv-00307238)

Russia invaded Ukraine, but you wouldn’t know that from the peace negotiations. At every step, President Trump has pushed the victim to give ground, while the aggressor has given little of substance.
(“Ukraine’s Concessions,”
New York Times: The Morning, April 24, 2025)

Last Sunday, I pointed readers to a thought-provoking piece from Leon Aron in POLITICO (see “Putin — or Is It Putler?” https://kotokreport.com/putin-or-is-it-putler/). I heard from a number of readers. Selected responses appear below.

Sam wrote, “The Politico article was excellent.”

But, for his part, Basil didn’t make it through the article:

Thank you for this. I could not keep reading. Both my gut and my head were about to burst. I knew with Trump’s love for Putler (and other vile dictators for that matter) Ukraine, the US and the rest of the world, would end up a big loser. I never imagined it was this bad. Our only hope is that the Republican sycophants would ultimately get some backbone and help save the country from this Narcissistic Madman. Only they in Congress can do it as the courts have been neutered by the Supreme Court. I can’t believe I have lived to see this once great country turn into the world pariah because of the political party that I supported electively and monetarily for most of my life.

John asked, “David, did not the West try to put NATO on the Russian border?”

Patrick pondered,

Thank you for sharing this very interesting article. I fully understand his explanation on why Putin does not want to the end the war. I am left wondering, though, what does he mean by “Ukraine’s capitulation”? Russia taking over 100% of Ukraine? If so, this war will probably not end any time soon. As per the “sticks” he proposes Trump to use, is it really realistic to think Trump and Vance can completely change their approach towards Ukraine after the Oval Office fiasco and the (outrageous) comments against Zelensky (and pro Putin) they have been making since they took office? How can they take all that back and keep face in front of the American people? I am afraid this is wishful thinking. Hence, again, this war will keep going for a long time. At least until the US has a different kind of president. But more likely until the West decides there is no alternative other than to “gift” Ukraine to Putin or to test Putin’s resolve to start a nuclear war by allowing Ukraine to bomb Moscow or another important city. I sincerely hope I am wrong.

Marc voiced his most worrisome plausible theory as to what might be going on behind the scenes:

Good points all and very possibly correct. There is another, darker, position that seems to me equally, if not more, plausible. I’ve written it out but have not yet disseminated it because I can’t figure out how to construct an appropriate email list! Duh.

Here it is:

***

As a long time (but now ex) Republicans, retired attorney and judge, I am astounded and ashamed to conclude that President Trump’s recent actions can best be explained by the hypothesis that he has become a Russian asset working against the interests of the United States. Whether from fear of blackmail or for financial self-aggrandizement is unclear. Sadly, both seem very possible to me.

I do see other, possible, less damning explanations, including laziness, narcissism, extraordinary incompetence, sequential short term thinking, early stage dementia, obsessive concern for his personal interests both political & financial, frequent infantile/emotional reactions to opponents & opposition and his easy manipulation by domestic & foreign leaders preying upon his well-known various personal weaknesses to further their own agendas.

Some of these other explanations (individually or-severally) seem plausible, but the overall, consistent (anti-U.S.) direction and the damaging totality of President Trump’s actions to the United States’ security, power and reputation in the world makes the Russian asset assessment distressingly compelling to me.

At this point I would certainly support his impeachment (and subsequent prosecution to the extent permitted by law, present or future). I have communicated this view to my senators and congressman. I will attempt to inform and to sway public opinion towards impeachment unless he drastically changes course.

Stephan concluded,

It’s Putler all the way, as if there could be any doubt.

As for Trump: He doesn’t give a tinker’s curse about anyone or anything, including the US, other than himself.  And for whatever reasons—and money of course being one of them—he has obviously calculated that a Russian victory and Ukrainian defeat would provide him with the most loot and attendant benefits.

Here’s Kotok’s take: IMO, Putin is a narcissistic psychopath who feels no remorse as he plays Trump while killing children with a long-range ballistic missile. The question for Americans to ponder is about how Trump negotiates. Trying to bully a courageous resistance only emboldens Putin. If I’m right, history will record Trump as another Chamberlain who tried to placate Hitler. We will know soon enough.

Alexander Baunov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, offers this analysis:

“Putin’s Unilateral Easter Truce Was Never Intended to Last,”
https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2025/04/russia-ukraine-easter-ceasefire

Further Reading

“Trump Pressures Ukraine to Accept a Peace Plan That Sharply Favors Russia,”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/world/europe/ukraine-cease-fire-talks-london.html

“’Vladimir, STOP!’ says Trump as Putin launches worst attack on Ukraine in months,”
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-trump-zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-kyiv-kharkiv-war-peace-crimea-rcna202736

“Trump pressures Putin and Zelenskyy,”
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2025/04/24/trump-pressures-putin-and-zelenskyy-00132333

David R. Kotok, April 25, 2025

(The above was first published on The Kotok Report website and via LISTSERV. For details, and to subscribe to The Kotok Report, visit https://kotokreport.com/.)