Trump Has Already Struck a Deal with Putin — China Reacts

It appears that Donald Trump has already reached an agreement with Vladimir Putin, aligning with U.S. strategies to separate Russia from China and shift focus more on the growing Chinese threat. The terms of this deal seem to include a full military and intelligence withdrawal from Ukraine, in exchange for Ukraine accepting a settlement based on Russia’s terms. These terms would likely involve no NATO membership for Ukraine, the removal of President Zelensky, and territorial concessions.

This shift suggests that the deal with Russia is aimed at lifting sanctions, reintegrating Russia into the international community, and possibly forming a new alliance. The situation was further underscored when Elon Musk recently stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the U.S. had interfered in Ukrainian politics, effectively overturning a regime that had been aligned with Russia. Additionally, Putin has reportedly offered expanded access to mineral resources, signaling that the U.S. may be willing to let Russia regain political control over Ukraine in exchange.

America’s reluctance to label Russia as the aggressor, coupled with its support for Russia, North Korea, and Sudan in opposing a European-led resolution to condemn Russia, adds more weight to the idea of a deal between Washington and Moscow. These actions suggest a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, one that aligns more closely with Russia to counterbalance China.

This arrangement with Russia likely explains why Trump feels more confident in his dealings with China. In response to Trump’s increased tariffs, China has reacted strongly, signaling rising tensions. A Chinese official made a rare statement, declaring:

“If war is what the U.S. wants, whether it’s a tariff war, a trade war, or any other form, we are ready to fight until the end.”

In turn, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ramped up rhetoric as part of the administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy. He emphasized:

“We’re prepared… Those who long for peace must prepare for war. My job as Secretary of Defense is to ensure we are ready. We need the defense spending, capabilities, weapons, and posture in the Indo-Pacific, which is something we’re focusing on heavily.