The Trump-Putin “Batphone” That Sends A Bad Signal To All

-Analysis-

ROME — The Kremlin-White House phone call this week has many worried, especially the Ukrainians. Nobody, however, was surprised. Donald Trump has spent more time on the phone with Vladimir Putin than he ever has with NATO or G7 allies. The direct channel between the two presidents has become routine. It all happens over the heads of Europeans, and it hardly seems to matter.

Tariffs and defense budgets aside, Trump has little interest in having us Europeans involved— whether it is about Iran’s nuclear program or pushing the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda toward peace, while securing access to their mineral wealth.

The same goes for Putin, even when Europe is directly concerned. Too bad for us. It also happens over the heads of the Ukrainians, and that is the real concern. The shadow cast by this latest call Thursday, the sixth one, now hangs over Kyiv’s future. Coming just two days after the suspension of $7 million in U.S. military aid, it does not bode well.

Trump backs off

Much depends, of course, on what the two presidents actually said. Neither is particularly concerned with telling the truth. In fact, it is a contest of who can lie more convincingly. All we know is what they want us to believe they said. Nothing new, or almost nothing.

Putin won’t retreat

Both spoke once again about a “negotiated solution.” But for Putin, that means no retreat from his goals — translation: more annexed territory, the overthrow of Zelensky, and a politically obedient Ukraine.

For Trump, it means the issue is for Kyiv and Moscow to sort out. The U.S. president is steadily distancing himself from any role as a mediator.

Not much to show for an hour-long conversation. To avoid guessing blindly, the only real clues lie in the circumstances surrounding the call. First, it was Putin who announced it, casually, during a visit to a trade show of Russian goods: Since I will be speaking to the American president today, I’ll mention these brands to promote them in the US market. So reported the Tass news agency, always loyal to the Kremlin, no matter whether the leader is Joseph Stalin or Vladimir Putin.

Trade promotion is not usually a presidential matter, unless Trump is involved, and the deal is worth $10 million or more. U.S.-Russia trade is currently at rock bottom. But perhaps something is shifting. Trump has said more than once that restoring good relations with Moscow could lead to a strategic bilateral partnership in energy and economics. As a sign of goodwill, he fully lifted the tariffs announced on April 2.

Strategic distractions

Still, it seems unlikely that Trump, who was busy Thursday trying to push his “big and beautiful” mega-budget through Congress, and Putin, had the time or the inclination to talk about future trade.

In reality, Ukraine had to come up again right away. Behind the scenes, the two may be offering each other strategic distractions: Trump from the war, and Putin from his ambitions in Europe; Putin from the war in Iran, and Trump from his own ambitions for territory in the Western Hemisphere, such as Greenland or the Panama Canal.

Putin does not need Trump to “sell out” Kyiv. All he needs is for Trump to keep Ukraine dangling

None of it is openly acknowledged, but both men are clearly looking far into the future. For now, they are treading very lightly. Putin does not need Trump to “sell out” Kyiv. All he needs is for Trump to keep Ukraine dangling, to delay delivery of promised aid, and to avoid making plans for future support.

Which is exactly what is happening. After the sudden and unexplained suspension of anti-aircraft systems and precision missiles, Kyiv is left guessing when and how much help will arrive. Meanwhile, Russia is intensifying its military offensive and launching heavy bombardments on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Macron ignored

Trump does not appear to have aligned with Emmanuel Macron’s European approach during his own call to the Russian president two days earlier, in which the French President had pressed for continued support to Ukraine. The demand for an immediate ceasefire, raised earlier by Macron, went ignored.

The direct Washington-Moscow line also serves another purpose: to sideline the Europeans, by mutual agreement. A troubling mix of Moscow’s military pressure, Washington’s strategic detachment, and Europe’s limited ability to provide assistance is converging on Kyiv. This is shaping up to be Ukraine’s most difficult moment in three and a half years of war.

Americans got to celebrate their Independence Day on Friday. Ukrainians, instead, are left asking themselves how to hold on to theirs.