If Trump wanted to show real strength, he could do a lot more, even short of anything military.
Another Bill gathering dust in Congress, also Republican-sponsored and bipartisan, would let the US seize Russia’s overseas central-bank assets and give them to Ukraine, and encourage the Europeans (who hold most of the Kremlin’s offshore reserves) to do the same.
Meanwhile, the remaining tranches of American weapons going to Ukraine still stem from aid packages passed under Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden. Just don’t remind Trump.
DOING AND SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS, BUT DOES TRUMP MEAN IT?
The changed tone in the Oval Office is nonetheless great news, not only to the valiant Ukrainians but also to America’s European allies, who are nowadays more used to playing the role of adversaries in Trump’s trade wars.
This week, the US president suddenly found positive things to say about America’s transatlantic partners – the “esprit de corps they have is amazing”, Trump remarked next to a beaming Rutte, and “having a strong Europe is a good thing”. All true, but novel from a president who’s more wont to diss US allies and laud US adversaries.
Two cheers to Trump, then, for doing and saying the right things this week. I’ll add the third once I have reason to believe he means it and sticks with the new approach, by making common cause with America’s allies and the Ukrainians to stare down Putin in a manner that not only Moscow but also Beijing and Pyongyang will understand and respect.
Heck, in that event I’d even nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.
