‘A Russian asset’: Donald Trump promises ‘unlimited’ Russian prosperity, brazenly rushes to reward Putin with lucrative trade deals

The call, which Trump predictably labeled “excellent” (has he ever had a merely “good” call?), reportedly came after failed peace talks in Turkey last Friday. Ukrainian negotiators left those discussions frustrated, accusing their Russian counterparts of negotiating in bad faith. Trump’s strategy—if you can call it that—is as transparent as it is shortsighted. His pitch to Russia is simple: end the war, and I’ll shower you with economic rewards. He’s offering “large-scale trade” as if the global community has forgotten that Russia’s economy is currently propped up by oil exports, kleptocratic corruption, and a network of oligarchs who thrive under authoritarian rule.

This isn’t about peace. It’s about Trump’s obsession with positioning himself as the ultimate dealmaker. He’s the guy who thinks every problem, no matter how complex, can be solved with a handshake and a sales pitch. “My whole life is like deals, one big deal,” he reportedly told journalists. Great. But wars aren’t real estate transactions. You can’t just slap a “sold” sticker on Ukraine and call it a day.

If anything, Trump’s actions risk alienating the very nations the U.S. needs to maintain a united front against Russian aggression. Even within his own administration, there are signs of frustration. Vice President JD Vance was dispatched to Europe over the weekend, meeting with Pope Francis and other key figures, including Zelensky, in what appears to be an attempt to clean up Trump’s diplomatic mess. Is this what American leadership looks like in 2025? If so, dictators around the world must be taking notes: Aggression pays, especially when Donald Trump is in the White House.