Former national security adviser John Bolton has expressed skepticism about the potential for a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly regarding the likelihood of achieving a ceasefire.
“Putin will likely use this one-on-one discussion with Trump to further his own agenda, perhaps by proposing a peace plan for Russia and working out a ceasefire arrangement. As for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, we’ll have to see if he rejects that,” Bolton commented during an appearance on News Nation’s “Balance.”
“It’s a perspective that suggests people are more focused on peace,” he remarked to host Leland Vittard. “But honestly, I think the parties are still pretty far apart.”
Meanwhile, Trump has voiced frustration over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, indicating he might impose stricter sanctions on allies purchasing Russian oil, including India, if trade issues aren’t resolved. Initially, he had given Putin a 50-day timeframe to agree to a ceasefire, but he has since shortened that to just until Friday.
Trump has frequently mentioned the idea of meeting with Putin, although the specifics regarding the timing and location of such summits remain unclear. Whether Zelensky would attend is still uncertain as well.
Bolton noted on Thursday that Putin seeks to project an image of international legitimacy during the conference and aims to draw Trump back into his sphere. However, he questioned whether Trump fully grasps the complex nature of the situation.
“Trump seems to be in a place where he doesn’t grasp how serious this is, and orchestrating this meeting feels like it’s more about media coverage than substance,” Bolton stated. “I can’t say where it will happen, but I know there will be plenty of cameras and reporters around.”
Pundits recall that Putin and Trump met six times during Trump’s first term. Bolton suggested that Trump believes he can help resolve this challenging diplomatic issue simply because of his personal rapport with other leaders.
“It’s evident that Trump isn’t pleased with Putin, yet he feels there’s still potential for a better relationship. He maintains the hope that, like old friends, they can work together to bring an end to the war in Ukraine,” Bolton conveyed to News Nation.
“He fundamentally sees international relations as just personal relationships between leaders,” he added. “If he gets along with a foreign leader, then he thinks US relations with that country will improve.”
Bolton concluded, “That’s a gross oversimplification.”
