Analysts are debating whether Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent praise for Donald Trump is a genuine olive branch or a strategic gambit to stall a new round of U.S. sanctions. Putin’s “light at the end of the tunnel” comment comes precisely as Trump has announced a two-week deadline on the issue.
The Trump administration has threatened to impose “massive sanctions” on Russia if there is no significant progress in the Ukraine peace process. This puts Moscow under considerable pressure to act, and Putin’s warm words for Trump could be an attempt to buy time or influence the president’s decision.
The immediate test of Moscow’s intentions is whether Putin will agree to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has made this a key benchmark for his upcoming decision, and Zelensky has already expressed his willingness to participate in such a summit.
While potentially playing for time, Putin also reiterated a hardline stance on Russian sovereignty, calling it an existential issue. This suggests that any concessions from Moscow will be limited, setting the stage for a tense and unpredictable two weeks of high-stakes diplomacy.
