WASHINGTON – Donald Trump has made clear his affection for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who, in his own way, has returned the favor.

But if Trump returns to the White House, their divergent interests could further complicate relations.

On the eve of a close Nov. 5 election, Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized Trump’s long history with Mr. Putin, telling an Oct. 29 rally that the Russian leader and others strong men “supported” Trump. knowing that he is “easy to manipulate with flattery and favor”.

Trump has repeatedly praised Mr. Putin, whose hyper-masculine style and professed commitment to traditional values ​​are increasingly finding favor with some American Christian conservatives.

At a rally in March, Trump praised Mr. Putin as “smart” but also criticized his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, saying sending troops to the border had been “a hell of a way to negotiate,” but that going in was a “big mistake” that didn’t go well.

The Republican tycoon nevertheless thought Russia would win in the end and mocked the billions of dollars in US aid sent to Ukraine under the presidency of Joe Biden and Ms Harris.

Trump’s running mate, MJD Vance, went so far as to say he doesn’t care about what’s happening in Ukraine, believing the United States should instead focus on confronting China.

Trump has boasted that he can quickly end the war in Ukraine, with aides suggesting forcing Ukraine into territorial concessions by conditioning U.S. aid.

He called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a big “salesman.” When Mr. Zelensky requested a meeting with Trump in September, Trump told the warlord that he had “very good relations” with Mr. Putin.

A new book by investigative journalist Bob Woodward claims that Trump and Mr. Putin may have spoken as many as seven times during Mr. Biden’s presidency and that Trump, while in office, secretly sent the leader Russian then rare Covid tests.

“Vladimir, let’s talk about it”

Mr. Putin said in September with a wry smile that he supported Ms. Harris, support that virtually no one believed.

Former president and Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev recently praised Trump for blaming Mr Zelensky for the war, while doubting the Republican would change the US position.

“It is clear that Trump is Russia’s preference, whatever they say,” said Russian political expert Konstantin Kalachov.

“Trump clearly wants to negotiate and there is no love between him and Mr. Zelensky,” he said.

Trump was first impeached in 2019 for delaying aid to Ukraine while pressuring Mr. Zelensky to shed light on the Biden family.

In one of the most criticized moments of his tumultuous 2017-2021 presidency, Trump, during a joint news conference, appeared to take the Russian leader’s word over US intelligence assessments that Russia had attempted to tilt the 2016 elections in his favor.

Mr. Leon Aron, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, expects that Trump, if elected, would quickly seek another summit with Mr. Putin.

Based on Trump’s past behavior and statements, “I think the first step will be a very dramatic sort of personal diplomacy — ‘Vladimir, let’s talk about this.’ We could solve this problem.

But Mr. Aron said he was less certain that Mr. Putin, whoever he prefers as U.S. president, would change his policies.

“Mr. Putin has made global opposition to the United States the key to his domestic legitimacy and popularity,” Mr. Aron said. “He now proclaims himself and his country heirs to the Soviet Union – a great superpower. »

“This policy will therefore continue strategically. Mr. Putin cannot change this without changing the regime,” he said.

Mr. Putin would happily accept a quick deal with Ukraine if it validated the land seizure and allowed Russian troops to stay.

But Trump would then face pressure from the American public, Congress and perhaps his own advisers, who would view him as negotiating a bad deal, Mr. Aron said.

“I think his macho image would argue against accepting a defeat of American interests in Ukraine. » AFP