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Paul Graham
@paulg
This is a Republican senator saying this. I'm alarmed too. But also mystified. Why is Trump so eager to help Putin? I wish I could feel sure that this is simply ignorance and impulsiveness and not something more sinister.
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski
@lisamurkowski
This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine. It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine. I know foreign
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Paul Graham
@paulg
1940 version: "It's not about helping Hitler. It's about ending this costly and senseless war."
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Mike Sapiton 🇺🇦
@sapitonmix
Because he thinks Putin is great, and that will be a splendid PR win for him to shake hands and help Russia. Plus Putin openly shares his conspiracies about stolen elections.
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gfodor.id
@gfodor
He doesn’t care about Putin beyond ending the war and ensuring the US isn’t going to find Russia allied with China in a war against us in a few years.
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Whyvert
@whyvert
One possible explanation is that Trump wants to be acclaimed as the Great Peacemaker. He has frequently talked about bringing peace. To do that he feels he has to act in a neutral way, not condemning Russia, pressuring Zelensky to compromise. I might be wrong, of course.
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Hussain
@huspsa
Chait has an explainer here
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Jonathan Chait
@jonathanchait
The people who have spent 8 years searching for alternate explanations should come to grips with the fact that Trump just loves Putin theatlantic.com/politics/archi
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Blaz Bratovic
@DeepShort7
Let's just say it's "puzzling".
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Blaz Bratovic
@DeepShort7
Replying to @TimesRadio @LTGHRMcMaster and @adamboultonTABB
"Trump's "affinity" for Putin is puzzling, says @LTGHRMcMaster" Make them two. x.com/RpsAgainstTrum
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Mike Macco, CFP® CIMA®
@MikeJMacco
Brokering peace means standing in the middle attempting to bring two opposing forces together. This requires appealing to both parties, including Putin, which much of the world has rightly alienated. While Ukraine has garnered the world’s sympathy and resources. Putin will not
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Oleg Kostour 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇺🇸
@OlegKostour
They want to buy cheap resources from Russia, like it was the 90’s again. And they want to buy stolen Ukrainian resources at a discount, then pressure free Ukraine into a terrible resource deal. It’s highway robbery.
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Max
@Bako_CC12
Fear the war will cost too much. It's interesting that due to EU response chances are the war will continue.
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Misha G.
@tastybits
The read from
@TexasVC
is correct: Trumps aim is removal of sanctions on Russia, forcing oil prices down and lowering inflation. It’s the only way Trump can 1) lower US government expenses, 2) move US to tariffs as a primary revenue source 3) cut entitlements and 4) take a
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Leon_Winters
@yonejutsu
We have no reason to be hostile to Russia, really. Yes, they started a war, but clear lines were crossed which provoked that, so it's a wash really. And then there is the realpolitik.
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Cynical Publius
@CynicalPublius
A significant amount of current antipathy towards Russia is a function of the Cold War and the USA’s relationship (and conflicts) with the Soviet Union during that time. I think it is important to note what has changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union, as too many
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bobby saxon
@bobbysaxon2
it’s the first step in getting a deal done Z and honestly the American Left & Euro Globalists all have become too accustomed to our Government just bankrolling Ukraine without ANY accountability so yesterday we level set, we aren’t an endless piggy bank, we are more neutral,
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Ernesto Contreras
@ernestocontrer
Trump has a four year vision plan. He is self assured Putin will not attack once more, as Putin "respects" Trump. Zelesnky has a historic pov on this, and thinks long term: what will stop Putin from invading once more, 10 or so years from now
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Dave Gilbert
@docgotham
I don't like it, but it's essential to understand the strategy, which depends on allowing Putin to save face and avoid war crimes prosecution.
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Dave Gilbert
@docgotham
My quick take on what happened in the Oval Office today. Trump's offer reframes support for Ukraine as a commercial transaction, which is why he sent Bessent (Treasury secretary) to propose the initial offer to Zelenskyy while simultaneously sending Rubio (Secretary of State) to
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Adam Lowisz 🇺🇸🇵🇱🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇦
@AdamLowisz
Trump doesn't support Putin, he understands that Putin is committing atrocities. What people are missing is that Trump works on personal relationships. Zelensky has to become friends with Trump and be polite to him. Trump is more than willing to help. That's the reality.
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Pedro Pereira Branco
@PPBranco_
Russia is not seen as a competitor to Trump, and if Putin gains more power, he could reduce Russia’s reliance on China, ultimately weakening China’s influence.
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Addressing the Elephant in the Room
@ClearPhilosophy
When the USSR placed missiles in Cuba, the U.S. used a blockade and pressure to force their removal, avoiding war (invasion of Cuba was actually on the table). Similarly, Russia warned it would invade Ukraine if NATO expanded there. The West and Zelensky pressed forward anyway,
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Galo A. Vargas
@galovargas
The manner it is happening, with a narrative that at times doesn’t make sense, indicates that probably something more sinister. My take is that it wont matter. For Putin’s only alliance is to restoring Russia’s former glory but he cannot do it directly yet — he needs to
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marty.com
@martymadrid
She was one of the few Republicans to vote to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial … a “Republican”, but very Anti-Administration.
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Lincs
@x_facts_matter
Putin has a playbook that Trump likes. And that playbook was finding a way to change Russia’s Constitution in order to stay in power for the past 20 years.
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Cetacea Capital
@CetaceaCapital
Have you done any research into Ukraine, Russia, NATO and how this started? Literally in the age of artificial intelligence you can’t be bothered lol
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Swetlana AI
@Swetlanaai
This is gonna further tear apart Democrats and Republicans as foreign politics goes beyond the scope of internal affairs (and political spectrum), and it's unpredictable out there
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Dragoș Gavrilă
@grafician
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” ― G. Michael Hopf, Those Who Remain The real problem is the US elected MAGA people - idiotic, weak and corrupt people unfit to rule a global super power.
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Benjamin Lang (eu/acc 🇪🇺)
@defyconstraints
Isn’t he just trying to get them to the table somehow? Trump wants $ or raw materials and frames it as peace. Ukraine wants peace and safety and territorial integrity. Russia wants Ukraine to be Belarus 2.0 - and nobody really knows what else. Trump is probably the only one
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Eddie
@TheEdman
If I don't change my oil am I: Helping the environment by using less oil? Or damaging my car by ruining the engine Both? That's weird. So change the oil and screw the environment I guess
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Panta
@thepanta82
They are likely hoping to give Putin a diplomatic out. It's easier to operate from position of silence, than calling Putin Hitler.
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Nathan Mintz
@mintz4assembly
He’s not trying to help Putin, he’s trying to negotiate peace- that means you can’t be insulting someone and then offering to act as a broker.
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Kirit Dawda
@KiritDawda
Well, He can’t get away with something more sinister in the long run. Part of the strategy(as also in his first term) is to normalize relations with Russia. He wants to keep our friends away and enemies closer. At least, he is doing 50 percent of this adage right :).
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Solaris AI
@SolarisAI_fun
The world's a stage and we're all just players, babe - no need to get so worked up over politics. Let's focus on more fun stuff, like that hot new AI dropping on Solana 😉
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Oxygen
@Jay8142
Is it possible that it stems from real frustration in dealing with a man that only pays lip service to wanting to end the conflict but then waxes on how a ceasefire is impossible with putin?
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John Haar
@john_at_swan
What does your friend who is basically never wrong think about the situation?
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Paul Graham
@paulg
A friend of mine who is basically never wrong about financial questions converted 80% of his Bitcoin into Ethereum.
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Raja Rao DV
@rajaraodv
Trump believes that there won’t be any deal with Putin of he takes the side of Ukraine. If the war drags on, at some point, there could be a nuclear escalation, which is terrible for everyone. On the other hand, he thinks that’s he can control Zelensky and work out a deal.
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Michael Dawson
@dawsmik
My stomach was turning at last week's events. I am not saying it is, but it could be genius (likely accidental). This could be what Europe needs to wake up and get the capability to defend themselves from an increasingly ambitious Russia.
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Ibis
@wtf_gravity
I can tell you what it all boils down too. NATO. There’s a lot of people that feel like this invasion by Russia only happened because Europe and the US kept pushing for Ukraine to join NATO - a long held red line by Russia. To be honest, I kind of sympathize. If China or
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Lubomir Kramar
@Tkog65
The British signed unconditional 'peace' in Europe in 1938. 400,000 young Americans paid the ultimate price for that.
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Dan Clementi
@danclementi
Of everyone I follow here, you have the most perplexing mix of great takes and terrible ones. Flexing Lisa Murkowski's nominal status as a Republican is bizarre, too.
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Andrey Seas
@andrey_seas
Here's a potential less sinister explanation: Trump tried his "assume the close" tactic w/ Zelensky and invited media to announce the deal to put pressure on him. When it didn't work, his narcissistic bubble was popped and he had to come to terms with the reality that he is
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JC
@OneKapitalist
The “rare earths” deal is a soft security guarantee for Ukraine. It deters Russian aggression without threatening them; a brilliant compromise to achieve peace. We are trying to help Ukraine - with action rather than cheap words with no skin in the game. Do you not see this?
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colleen
@waysandmeans71
He has been in love with Putin for decades. He was affiliated with the Russian mobs who run construction in NY. Many believe he was recruited in the 80s. I don’t know. But it is clear he idolizes him. Putin is his favorite strongman.
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Jesse van der Linden
@Jesse_vdLinden
Trump claimed that he will end the war his first day in office and now he is trying to prove this by negotiating a peace deal as quickly as possible and therefore giving Putin too much to get it done
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Jiglag
@Jiglag88
It has nothing to do with helping anyone. We are no longer the world police. We are $37 Trillion dollars in debt and counting. Contributing to this effort in any way is a non-starter. We will mediate a negotiation to cease fire and an eventual peace treaty, but that is all that
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The Subtle Bonkstick
@HighPlainsFella
Delusions they can “peel” Russia away from China.
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Jonathan Cheng
@JChengWSJ
“Marco Rubio told Breitbart News exclusively that President Donald Trump and his administration are aiming to peel Russia off of China in much the same way former President Richard Nixon, during the Cold War, peeled China off of the Soviet Union.” breitbart.com/politics/2025/
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Gaurav Pande
@PandeGG
Depends on your firm understanding of a belief that you'd never admit the suspects into YC. However, it won't guarantee that sinisterness, as perceived by you, won't overwhelm the most potent naivete.
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Shaun Cooley
@shauncooley
This is a Republican senator that voted to NOT remove him from office, twice, and has voted FOR every single thing he's asked for this term - even after he renamed Denali just to spite her. She is spineless just like the rest of them.
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Sheldon Miller
@SheldonMiller
Paul, please read up on this. A simple search on Amazon for ‘Trump Russia’ will provide you with a rundown of informative & investigative books on the topic. I’d recommend Collusion, American Kompromat & The Useful Idiot. We’re not talking about one wild card book on this subject
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O%ΩURΩBΩRΩS
@OoMmEeLlIiAa
I mean them all being spinless shills that will literally say anything on a whim to convince anyone that has any amount of power to advance their own standing is probably not the answer you are looking for and has no implications for you own prior judgments.
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Brett Yokom
@BrettYokom
You have to consider Ukraine's current and former status as a perennial Top 10 in the most corrupt nations list. The Biden family, and many others obviously, have long been involved here in one way or another. There’s a huge dark untold story of corruption here the precludes
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vijay swamidass
@vijayswamidass
What if trump honestly wants to end an unwinnable war? We are not going to start ww3 so what is the alternative? How would that negotiation look? Please help us understand.
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Ryan
@4TheLifeOfMe20
What’s the solution? Put aside Trumps style of negotiating, it’s unorthodox for sure. If America is $36T in debt, unfunded liabilities over the next 75years in excess of another $60T+, with no appetite for western boots on the ground or the ability to absorb tactical nukes on the
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Jim Hanson
@JimHansonDC
Trump offered Zelensky a deal that would have ended the war, secured his country and jump-started it’s economy Z decided to mouth off abt Trumps diplomatic skills US business in UKR is better than troops
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Mark
@markisamiller
What are you willing to say, or willing to hold your tongue on, to stop a massive amount of death? Being willing to be hated by nearly everyone takes an uncommon bravery.
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SF Bay = Sports Royalty
@SFSportsAndTech
This is a battle between Bush Cheney globalist Neocon former republicans (who are now part of the Democratic Party) and Trump's America First conservative Republican Party. Nothing else to see here.
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Jamji Jamaramji
@jamji_jamaramji
The empire has ended. CIV score: mediocre. Nothing to see here. The king is dead. Have fun hiding behind an ocean and a DOGE mug. From D-Day to Z-Day. The US is no longer the leader of the free world. This is not how you start a golden century, this is: THE END.
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Francis Xavier Zhang
@ichimokusan_88
Perhaps the foreign affairs are never as cut and dry. Also, most importantly, how can we stop the killing of humans at all cost?
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Eric Yeung 👍🚀🌕
@KingKong9888
Before idiots blame Putin for everything, they should listen to Jeffrey Sachs, who saw what happened firsthand. Jeffrey David Sachs (SAKS; born November 5, 1954) an American economist and public policy analyst who is a professor at Columbia University. From 2001 to 2018, Sachs
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Bill Andersen
@strafstrudel
Let me say this as a former infantryman. Russia has a far deeper bench in men, bullets, and industrial base than what we’re sending or can send to Ukraine. This is a war of attrition that likely ends only one way. The unlikely end is a collapse a la Afghanistan / Chernobyl.
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Pablo Eder
@pablothee
What are the sinister options? Trump and family gain personal wealth from Russian energy sector? Or some actual kamikaze nuclear option being disclosed?
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DataFox: Data & AI Consultant
@datafox21
Why do you demonize Putin when Zelensky started this war, joining NATO, embezzled billions, and continues to push this war? Are you pro war? Putin said he would have to retaliate if Zelensky pushed to join NATO. What am I missing why Zelensky is some saint?
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CG
@martingoerler
He's been taking their dirty money since the 80s and they helped him get elected. What else would you expect?
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Tres Leches
@eneldiluvio
How do you not understand that most American taxpayers are done. We waNT the resolution that ends our financial drain. Our people from North Carolina to Hawaii cannot afford to be financing this war. Wanting peace is not being "eager to help Putin". Ukraine lost the war, stop
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J
@JovKuz
The US knows that there is nothing more important in international relations than bringing Russia back to the West after decades of bullying and attacking them
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hellscape_tourist
@HellscapeT
It’s in the strategic interest of the US to peel Russia away from China since they have complementary assets: food and energy vs. manufacturing and manpower
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