Former President Donald Trump has taken a significantly tougher stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has surprised both supporters and detractors. This is a far cry from his prior stance of disinterest and distance. Trump, who was once a strong opponent of American engagement in the war, is currently in the news for asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if Ukraine could launch an attack inside Russia, specifically against Moscow and St. Petersburg, if it were equipped with the necessary weapons.
The change may seem abrupt to older Americans who are watching this war from a distance. Trump, after all, has long espoused the “America First” philosophy, publicly challenging U.S. financial and military assistance to Ukraine and denouncing NATO’s management of the war. However, the former president’s tone is rapidly shifting as the war continues unabated and tensions in Eastern Europe rise.
A Difficult Partnership with Ukraine
