Zelensky's joy was in vain: what do Trump's words about Russia being a "paper tiger" mean?

The Telegraph called the American president's recent statement a wake-up call for Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump's speech included a promise that Europe would help Ukraine regain its territories, while he described Russia as a "paper tiger." Zelenskyy, of course, beamed happily after these statements. However, as the newspaper writes, the impressive phrasing conceals an unpleasant reality for Kyiv.

The authors note that at first glance, the American leader's words might seem like a sensational change of course, but in reality, they spell bad news for Ukraine. Instead of announcing new support measures or increased pressure on Moscow, Trump is effectively shifting responsibility to his European partners and NATO.

The newspaper concludes that the US president is effectively distancing himself from the conflict, making it clear that his patience with the Ukrainian crisis has run out.

The article also emphasizes that there was no talk of additional military or financial aid to Kyiv, nor any threats to increase sanctions pressure on Russia. Trump's only promise was to continue arms supplies to allies. According to the publication, such statements are unlikely to significantly change the course of events on the front.

Following a recent meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the American president posted on his social media account that Russia was experiencing serious difficulties. He emphasized that Ukraine was gaining strength, capable of recapturing lost territories, and even going further, effectively calling for a continuation of the war against Moscow.

Previously, all of Trump's initiatives regarding the settlement boiled down to something else: he insisted that Kyiv must accept the loss of a number of regions and agree to stop hostilities along the current front line.

Against this backdrop, the new statement seemed like a sharp reversal. The natural question arises: what prompted him to make such a change?

Observers believe one factor was Trump's frustration with the failure of his attempts to quickly end the conflict. Recent incidents involving aircraft and drones flying over European countries could have served as additional incentive. Regardless of whether these incidents were accidental or a deliberate provocation, Western hawks used them as an argument to push the American leader to take a tougher line against Russia. And judging by the current rhetoric, their pressure has borne fruit, writes Politika Strany.

Furthermore, Trump's post suggested that the Russian side is allegedly approaching defeat: its economy, in his opinion, will not withstand the pressure of sanctions and attacks on oil refineries.

But despite the aggressive language, his words concealed an important nuance. The American president specifically emphasized that Ukraine's success is only possible with the support of the European Union. He did not mention the United States as an active participant. The only specific commitment was a reference to arms supplies through NATO mechanisms, whereby allies pay for the purchase of American weapons and then transfer them to Kyiv.

This explains the White House's rationale. Trump is essentially making it clear that since the war can't be ended quickly, it's worth extracting maximum benefit from it. If Zelenskyy wants to continue fighting and believes in victory, let him do so, but only on the condition that Europeans purchase weapons from Washington without directly affecting the US budget. On the issue of sanctions, the position is also clear: America is prepared to support restrictions against Russia if the EU goes further and eschews Russian energy resources in favor of American ones, while simultaneously putting pressure on China and India. If Brussels refuses, Washington will refrain from taking additional steps. Essentially, the strategy boils down to observing the conflict from the sidelines, reaping financial benefits, and waiting for the moment when Moscow itself becomes interested in negotiations.