Is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s praise for Donald Trump a genuine olive branch or a clever Russian ruse? This is the question occupying foreign policy experts after Putin called Trump a “light at the end of the tunnel” just as the U.S. issued a stark two-week deadline on Ukraine.
The optimistic interpretation is that Putin sees Trump as a pragmatic leader with whom he can make a deal, and his words are a sincere opening for dialogue to avert new sanctions. The “olive branch” theory suggests a real possibility for a diplomatic breakthrough.
The skeptical view is that this is a “ruse” to appeal to Trump’s ego, divide Western allies, and stall for time without making any real concessions on Ukraine. This interpretation sees Putin’s words as a tactical maneuver in a larger geopolitical game.
The true nature of Putin’s intent will be revealed over the next two weeks. Whether he agrees to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be the key indicator of whether his hopeful words will be matched by concrete actions.