President Vladimir V. Putin’s strategy for defeating Ukraine can be summed up in one revealing moment in his February interview with Tucker Carlson, a former television host. During the interview, the Russian leader questioned Americans about their focus on potential increased U.S. involvement in Ukraine: “Don’t you have anything better to do?”
The Current American Political Landscape
After several tumultuous weeks in American politics, President Biden, who is Ukraine’s most important ally, is facing the largest political crisis of his tenure. Calls from fellow Democrats for him to withdraw from the presidential race have intensified. Meanwhile, former President Donald J. Trump, who is leading in polls, has chosen a vocal critic of American aid to Kyiv as his running mate.
Trump’s Stance and Potential Impact
At the Republican National Convention on Thursday night, Mr. Trump reiterated his commitment to ending the conflict and echoed Putin’s concerns about the risk of “World War III.” These developments signal a shift in American foreign policy that aligns more closely with Putin’s expectations—a more inward-looking perspective that places less emphasis on Ukraine compared to the Russian viewpoint.
American Foreign Policy Outlook
Observers in Moscow are closely monitoring American polls and media coverage. State television and pro-Kremlin sources have extensively covered Mr. Trump’s selection of Senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential candidate. Dmitri Trenin, former head of the Carnegie Moscow Center, interprets polling data as indicating that international issues rank low on the list of priorities for American voters.
