As the relentless Russian aggression against Ukraine persists, it's worth reflecting on two statements made by President Donald Trump, who has evidently grown exasperated with the situation:.
"Putin has really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice, and then he bombs everybody in the evening. So there's a little bit of a problem there. I don't like it."
"I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody that meant what he said. He'll talk so beautifully, and then bomb people at night. We don't like that."
These sentiments, expressed by Trump in July, resonate with many of us. Yet, as we approach the end of 2025, the situation remains unchanged. The enduring lesson here is that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, a man who dedicated 15 years of his life to foreign intelligence for the KGB (Committee for State Security), is not a figure to be trusted. This applies not only to his words but also to his deplorable actions.
It's apparent that President Trump and the United States are stuck in a repetitive cycle, hoping for different outcomes from the Russian autocrat. However, as reported by RedState, there are voices calling for a significant shift in the American approach to Putin and Russia. One such voice is Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who advocates for a more assertive stance.
In a recent interview on Fox News Channels Special Report, Thune expressed his belief that it's high time for the U.S. to transition from mediation to exerting more pressure on Russia. When asked by host Bret Baier about Ukraine's President Zelensky's desire for the U.S. to pressure Moscow rather than mediate, Thune responded affirmatively:
"I do share that view. Im very sympathetic to the president, his team, to Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth, and others who are on the frontlines of a lot of these discussions and negotiations. But I think anything that we can put in the presidents toolbox that gives him additional leverage in dealing with the Russians is a good thing."
Thune's sentiment echoes the old adage, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me multiple times, shame on me." It's evident that a significant shift in U.S. strategy is overdue.
Thune further elaborated on potential legislative measures that could aid this shift:
"And there are a couple of bills that have been hanging around up here for a while. One on Russia sanctions, its a bill that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and others have put out, its got, like, 85 co-sponsors in the Senate, Democrat and Republican. And as soon as the president and his team feel like thats a useful tool for them, were anxious to move on it. But I just think you want to have as many tools as you can at your disposal."
Thune's perspective on Putin and the ongoing conflict is clear:
"When youre dealing with leaders like Vladimir Putin, who understands nothing but strength, you have to project strength. And I think the peace through strength approach the president has taken all around the world is paying huge dividends, and the jury is still out in Russia and Ukraine, but Im hopeful there that his approach to this is going to be something that ultimately gets us to a peaceful outcome."
As previously reported by RedState in August, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly stated that Ukraine will not surrender any territory for peace, a demand consistently made by Putin.
The longstanding issue is that Russia, formerly the Soviet Union, has a history of reluctance to relinquish land it has forcefully seized, a mindset that accurately characterizes Putin's approach.
Whether substantial pressure, beyond mere sanctions, could alter the Russian dictator's stance is yet to be seen. However, it's a safe bet that Putin will not agree to end the war without securing a significant portion of Ukraine and its natural resources.
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