The Washington Post: Russia concerned about US tilt toward Ukraine after metals deal
The Washington Post reported that concern in Moscow has been growing since the tone of US President Donald Trump’s administration officials began to shift, after previously promoting Russia’s needs and its view of the war in Ukraine.
Russian officials criticized the agreement, with Senator Alexei Pushkov saying it represented a major step toward the colonization of Ukraine.
From his part, Alexei Chiba, deputy chairman of the Russian Duma international affairs committee, agreed, saying the agreement increased Ukraine’s dependence on the United States and “turned Ukraine into a mining colony”.
Trump’s rise to power brought about a radical shift in the US approach to the Ukraine war, with personal calls between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, statements by US envoy Steve Witkoff leaning toward the Russian viewpoint, and Trump criticizing the generous US military support for Ukraine.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant praised the metals agreement on Thursday, saying it showed “the Russian leadership that there is no difference between the Ukrainian people and the American people, and between our goals,” and said it would allow Trump to negotiate with Russia on a stronger footing.
Sergei Markov, a political analyst closes to the Kremlin, said the agreement “worsens the situation for Russia,” adding, “A major source of tension between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been removed”.
Although the agreement signed Wednesday outlines future cooperation only in vague terms and offers no concrete security guarantees, it does—even symbolically— “make clear that the United States has a certain duty to defend Ukraine because it has become its owner,” Markov said.
Russia had been seeking to end any US arms supplies to Ukraine as a condition for a long-term ceasefire, and Russia appeared to be in control of the negotiations after a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office.
But Trump, after a brief meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral last week, sharply attacked Putin for his missile attacks on civilian areas and threatened him with additional sanctions.
In this context, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned this week that he had secured Senate support for a bill calling for sweeping new sanctions on Russia, imposing 500% tariffs on imports from countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, or uranium, if Russia doesn’t engage in serious negotiations to end the war.
Economic concerns lie at the heart of a deepening dispute within the Russian elite over negotiating tactics.
The more moderate camp is pressuring the Kremlin to accept a potential US deal that would freeze the conflict on the front line in exchange for a partial lifting of sanctions and US recognition of Russia’s control of Crimea.
Meanwhile, hardliners are pressuring Russia to continue its war regardless of the economic situation.
Markov said that the debate within the Russian government is between those who see the deteriorating economy as a reason to improve relations with the United States, and those who believe that Russia should seize more Ukrainian territory given its military superiority.
He noted that the potential for closer relations between Washington and Kyiv as a result of the metals deal means that Russia will continue to fight to secure the best possible deal.
US Vice President J.D. Vance paved the way for prolonging the peace talks and continuing Russia’s military campaign when he stated that there is a big gap between what the Russians want and what the Ukrainians want, noting that the United States would do everything we can for another 100 days to try to bring these people together.
The author concluded that Russia could continue fighting, but if Trump feels that someone is trying to deceive him and prolong the process without reaching what he deems a beneficial agreement for Russia, he may return to generously supplying weapons to Ukraine.
