Trump's positioning in the Russia-Ukraine conflict reveals a preference for Russia and admiration for Putin's political control. He has made statements undermining Zelensky and seems to echo the last person he spoke to about the situation. A notable incident occurred post a Fourth of July conversation with Putin, which coincided with increased Russian military actions in Ukraine. Trump claims that, had he been president, the war would not have unfolded, despite evidence of continued hostility from Putin's administration.
In general, over the years, Trump has leaned more toward Russia. He admires Putin, envies his total political control, wants to restore good relations, and wouldn't mind redrawing the spheres of influence of the Cold War era—but this time in partnership with Moscow, mutually aligned against Beijing.
It may be no coincidence that after Trump's hourlong Fourth of July phone call with Putin, Russia unleashed the largest volley of missiles and drones against the civilians of Kyiv since the war began.
Trump tends to parrot the views of the last person he's talked with. Both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky have emerged from recent phone calls with Trump believing that the man in the White House is on their side—but subsequent events have shown otherwise, or at best, sent confusing signals.
He has derided Zelensky as a 'salesman,' buys Putin's view that Ukraine is part of Russia, and still believes (or at least says) that the war never would have happened if he'd been president.
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