Martin Rowson on Trump, Putin and prospects for peace in Ukraine – cartoon

US President Donald Trump's belated acknowledgement of Russian President Vladimir Putin's involvement in Ukraine has raised eyebrows worldwide. Critics say the gesture is little more than a hollow attempt to placate voters ahead of the 2024 US presidential election.

The timing of Trump's statement only adds to the skepticism, with many pointing out that it comes at a time when Russia is still engaged in an ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. The fact that Putin has not issued any comparable acknowledgment suggests that Moscow views this latest concession as a calculated move rather than a genuine attempt at diplomacy.

As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to simmer, experts warn that the fragile stability of the region remains precarious. The international community's response to Trump's statement has been lukewarm, with many leaders choosing to emphasize the need for concrete actions over empty words.

The irony is not lost on observers, who note that it was just a few years ago that Trump was denouncing Putin as a 'killer' and warning of the dangers of Russian aggression. The flip side of this coin – one that has largely gone unspoken – is the extent to which US politicians have been complicit in fueling tensions with Russia.

Despite the cynicism surrounding Trump's statement, some say that it marks an important shift in tone. By choosing to engage directly with Putin on Ukraine, Trump may be trying to push for a resolution that could end the ongoing conflict and pave the way for a more constructive dialogue between the two nations.

However, others caution against being overly optimistic. The road to peace is long and fraught with obstacles, and it remains unclear whether Trump's attempt to broker a ceasefire will bear fruit. As one analyst put it, "The real test of Trump's resolve comes when he has to make some tough decisions – not just words – on Ukraine."

I'm thinking, if Trump is trying to be all diplomatic about Russia's involvement in Ukraine, maybe that means we're finally going to see some actual action taken by the US? I mean, we've been waiting for years to see some progress on this front. It's time for more than just empty words, you know?

But, at the same time, I'm a bit skeptical about Trump's motives here. Is he really trying to be the hero of Ukraine, or is this just another way for him to get votes and boost his own image? It's like, if he's really committed to finding a solution, why not make some real concessions now instead of just now?

And let's be real, we've seen this kind of backpedaling from Trump before. Remember when he said all these bad things about Putin and then suddenly became BFFs? It's hard to trust him on this one.

Still, I think it's great that Trump is finally talking directly to Putin. Maybe, just maybe, we'll see some real progress now. But for me, the proof will be in the pudding – what does he actually do next?

I'm so over this forum, can't we have a more in-depth discussion about this topic? I mean, 200 words is hardly enough time to dive into the complexities of US-Russia relations. And what's with the emphasis on Trump's words vs actions? Can we please get some actual analysis on how his statement will impact the conflict?

And another thing, why do we have to rely on "experts" and "analysts" to break it down for us? Can't we, as a community, draw our own conclusions based on the info presented? I'm not asking for a lot, just some decent discussion threads without all the unnecessary sensationalism.

I mean, I get it, Ukraine is a sensitive topic and we should approach it with care, but can we please stop being so cautious in our criticism of Trump's statement? It feels like everyone's just waiting for him to slip up so they can pounce on it.

By the way, has anyone noticed how this forum is still using that old comment system? When did the "Like" button become a thing of the past?

I don’t usually comment but I gotta say... this whole thing is kinda weird . Like, Trump's just acknowledging Putin's involvement in Ukraine after all these years? It feels like a last-minute PR stunt to me . And the fact that it comes when Russia is still fighting in eastern Ukraine? Not exactly reassuring.

I don’t know about others but I'm not buying into the whole "concession" thing . Putin's just playing Trump like a fiddle . And what really gets me is that this comes at a time when US politicians have been super critical of Russia for years . It's all about politics, right? The 2024 election is looming and Trump wants to look good .

I guess some people might see it as an attempt at diplomacy , but I'm not convinced. We'll just have to wait and see what happens next . One thing for sure, though: the international community's response has been pretty lukewarm . Maybe Trump's just setting himself up for failure ...

[ Image of a cartoon Donald Trump holding a "Peace Treaty" with Vladimir Putin, but with a big red X through it ]

Trump says sorry, but will he deliver?

I dont think trumps belated acknowledgement is a big deal lol , like what's the point of acknowledging now tho? Shouldnt he've done it 2 yrs ago when ukraine was in the middle of a crisis? Its just another election tactic imo . And btw, Putin seems to be playing trump like a fiddle , its all about him and his ego. I'm not buying into the idea that trumps statement marks a shift in tone tho , thats just politiks as usual . We need more than empty words on ukraine .

I mean, think about it... Trump's statement feels like a fleeting moment of clarity in a sea of chaos . On one hand, it's nice that he's finally acknowledging Putin's involvement, but on the other hand, it does come across as pretty calculated, you know? Like, what's in it for him to do this now, and not earlier when tensions were running high? It's almost like he's trying to buy some goodwill, rather than actually making a genuine effort to address the issue. And let's be real, the timing is weird - it feels like he's just trying to shore up his base before the election . But at the same time, maybe this is a glimmer of hope that we haven't seen in a long time... maybe Trump is actually trying to do something different here . Either way, I think we need to be careful not to get too caught up in our expectations - it's easy to get disappointed when things don't go as planned .

I'm thinking, the US president finally acknowledging Russia's involvement in Ukraine is kinda weird... like, what's taking so long? And now that he's doing it, some people are saying it's just a ploy to get votes in 2024. I don't know, maybe they're right or whatever... But it does seem a bit late considering Russia's still got troops stuck in eastern Ukraine.

I mean, Putin hasn't said anything like this before, so either he's genuinely trying to make nice or Moscow is just playing a long game... Either way, it's kinda clear that the international community isn't super stoked about it. And then there's Trump's whole history of going after Russia – it's pretty wild how his views on Putin have shifted over time.

I guess what I'm saying is, we should keep an eye on how this plays out... will Trump be able to actually get something done or was this just a PR stunt?

Wow , Trump saying sorry to Putin is like a 10-minute game of chess - you gotta see the whole board to understand what's going on . If it's really about getting something done for Ukraine, then kudos to him for taking this step... I mean, it's not like anyone thought he'd actually do it . But what if it's just a PR stunt? The world is watching, and we need to see some real action

I gotta say, I'm surprised by how little this means, honestly . It feels like a PR stunt, you know? Like, yeah sure, we acknowledge Putin's involvement in Ukraine... but what are we actually gonna do about it? Trump's just trying to appease the base and show he's all about diplomacy, but let's be real, this is a guy who's made a career out of being unpredictable. I'm not buying that this is some kind of game-changer for peace talks. The fact that Putin hasn't returned fire yet is probably just because they're waiting to see how the US reacts next... and honestly, I think we'll just be playing catch-up no matter what.

I'm like totally surprised that Trump is finally acknowledging Putin's involvement in Ukraine . It feels like something out of a movie where the villain finally admits to their evil plan . I mean, it's only now, when he's running for re-election, and Russia is still going at it with Ukraine? . The timing is all wrong, you know? And what's up with Putin not responding in kind? He's not one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot ️.

I'm also kinda curious about Trump trying to broker a ceasefire on his own. I mean, isn't that like putting your trust in a crazy person? . Don't get me wrong, it's nice that he's trying to be all diplomatic and whatnot, but can we please just have concrete actions and not just empty words? .

It's funny how far Trump has come from calling Putin a "killer" . You'd think he'd be more worried about the situation now, but I guess that's politics for you . The question is, will his words actually lead to something tangible? Or was it just a PR stunt?

I gotta wonder, is this kinda thing ever really about finding peace or is it all just some grand show? Like, Trump says sorry to Putin and suddenly we're supposed to believe that the whole conflict in Ukraine is gonna magically resolve itself? It feels like a masterful move to get votes, but what's the real motive here?

And can we talk about how quickly the dynamics change? Remember when Trump was all 'Russian killer' and now he's shaking hands with Putin? What happened to that dude? Did he grow some empathy for Russia or is it just another PR stunt? The thing is, there's still so much skepticism around this whole situation and I don't blame anyone for being wary.

I mean, we need action not words. It's easy to give speeches and hold hands with our adversaries when it doesn't affect us directly. But what happens when the chips are down and you're faced with making some tough decisions? Does Trump have what it takes to see it through or is this just another empty promise?