Inside the storm of international outrage, Donald Trump might actually be getting something done

Inside the storm of international outrage following his hot-headed Ukraine spray, Donald Trump might actually be getting something done.

Two important things happened today amid the controversy over Donald Trump’s provocative comments about Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

While those comments essentially legitimised Russia’s violent three-year campaign by acknowledging the land it has captured, Trump has demonstrated a rock-solid desire to end the war as quickly as possible, no matter the means.

His breaking of bread with Russia has been seen as a volatile gesture by the EU and showed the US President has zero desire to placate Ukraine. His comments claiming the invaded nation was the instigator of the war have stirred up the most vitriol as the global press plasters him across its mastheads.

But given the level of aid that has passed from the taxpayer to Zelensky’s, Trump now feels Ukraine owes the US to come to the table brokered by Washington.

At face value, it could be interpreted as a power-hungry mogul extending an olive branch to an authoritarian state waging war on its neighbour. But as the dust settles, it may actually lead to peace, or at least pragmatic cooperation between states divided by festering tension.

Amid all the outrage bouncing around the globe, Trump also signalled a landmark trade deal was “possible” with China — which has been a key target in the US leader’s tariffs policy.

In one day, the US has taken two massive leaps in diplomacy with two major players — and all it took was a 78-year-old running his mouth on camera.

With the infamous Doomsday Clock clicking forward another second last month, it’s safe to say that keeping relations between nuclear-armed nations nice and peachy should be a priority.

There are theories that Trump uses a brand of “incendiary common sense”, where he intentionally riles-up his opponents to sweep up a cyclone, instantly propelling any issue he wants into the public conversation.

He has repeatedly displayed that he doesn’t care who he offends on his way to close a deal.

And should anyone be surprised? We’ve already seen what four years of Donald Trump in the White House looks like.

We’ve already what how four years of Donald Trump in the White House looks like. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)

It was a similar story when he announced Elon Musk would be running the Department of Government Efficiency. By linking arms with the world’s richest man, a divisive celebrity, Trump ensured the issue would be in the media for weeks.

Criticisms of “President Musk’s” role came thick and fast, but eventually, the narrative shifted to questioning wasteful government spending, which ultimately benefited Trump’s argument that the government was bloated.

There are parallels in how he negotiates deals, oftentimes making an outrageous demand — as seen during this month’s tariff drama — to whip up defiance and then scaling back his offer to make it seem more palatable.

In terms of the Ukraine war, after three years and over a million estimated casualties, the quickest throw-together route to end the violence might end up being the most popular.

This goofy bloke was always going to ignite the columnists. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) / AFP PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2024

Trump: ‘Russians want to see the war end’

The US has been a key supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, providing essential funding and arms alongside the UK, EU, Australia and other allies.

However, Trump’s approach has shifted sharply as his administration rushes to set up a deal.

“I think the Russians want to see the war end … But I think they have the cards a little bit, because they’ve taken a lot of territory, so they have the cards,” Trump said.

Trump’s criticism of Zelensky was scathing, accusing the Ukrainian leader of undermining democracy and suggesting he was to blame for the war.

“A Dictator without Elections, (Zelensky) better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” Trump earlier wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing (Joe) Biden ‘like a fiddle.’”

Putin is being brought to the table. (Photo by Valery SHARIFULIN / POOL / AFP)

While Zelensky’s popularity has seen some decline, his approval has not dropped below 50 per cent since the conflict began, according to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

However, Trump’s support from within Ukraine has taken a hit as a result.

One civilian in Kyiv, quoted by the New York Times, said they believe Trump has never been on Ukraine’s side and accused him of “using his own interests behind Zelensky’s back”.

“I don’t believe anything good will happen,” another woman who had lost her father and husband in the war said. “I don’t believe in these negotiations.”

Trump accused Zelensky of playing Biden like a fiddle. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)

Trump’s tirade ‘wrong and dangerous’

Words have weight and Trump is testing the patience of his European counterparts.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called his remarks “wrong and dangerous,” while former vice president Mike Pence, countered his assertion that Ukraine started the war.

“Mr President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives,” Pence wrote on X.

Zelensky accused Trump of falling victim to Russian “disinformation,” adding, “I believe that the United States helped (Vladimir) Putin to break out of years of isolation.”

In Kyiv, Trump’s statements were met with disbelief.

“Blaming Ukraine for starting the war is some kind of absurdity. As Ukrainians, we cannot understand this,” soldier Ivan Banias told AFP.

Zelensky accused Trump of falling victim to Russian ‘disinformation’ adding, ‘I believe that the United States helped (Vladimir) Putin to break out of years of isolation.’ Picture: NewsWire / POOL / AFP / Tetiana Dzhafarova

Russia is cheering, for now

In Moscow, Trump’s remarks and the ongoing US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia were seen as a major diplomatic win.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the progress in negotiations and suggested Europe was paying the price for opposing Trump’s return to the White House.

Putin also hinted at a broader reorganisation of Europe’s security framework as part of any deal to end the conflict, asserting that “it is impossible to solve many issues, including the Ukrainian crisis, without increasing the level of trust between Russia and the United States.”

Despite the tensions, Zelensky struck a more measured tone ahead of a scheduled meeting with US special envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv.

“It is very important for us that the meeting and our work with America in general be constructive,” he said.

“Together with America and Europe, peace can be more reliable, and this is our goal.”

Originally published as Inside the storm of international outrage, Donald Trump might actually be getting something done