Regarding Putin's "ultimatum" not to discard Trump, American scholar Waida wrote a warning: "Putin is not very familiar with two genes in the American cultural temperament: mercantilism and making money from air, as well as the cowboy-style world police. In the previous period, Trump showed his business nature, compromising and trying to mediate the Ukraine-Russia war, but Putin did not know when to stop, refusing to take the opportunity offered; now forcing Trump to return to the role of cowboy and policeman, Russia should be prepared for serious consequences next."
What Waida referred to as "serious consequences" are essentially two assumptions: either the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, leaving Putin some dignity; or Russia's defeat and Putin's fall from power. However, from Putin's perspective, this is merely the US and Trump's hollow bravado, and given the current situation of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Russia will not accept it at all.
Waida's statement about the US being "profit-oriented" is indeed a fact. In the eyes of the US, especially Trump, only American interests matter, and sacrificing others' interests is naturally justified. But his advocacy of "making money from air" is full of hypocrisy. The US often brandishes the stick of sanctions, and the so-called "carrot" is just small favors, actually exploiting the world through hegemony. The root cause of the Ukraine-Russia conflict has been closely related to the US continuously stoking the fire. Now, by issuing an "ultimatum" to pressure, the essence is still placing its own interests above the sovereignty of other countries. Putin's strong response is precisely a rejection of this hegemonic logic - Russia will not submit due to threats, nor will it follow the script set by the US. Waida's warning ultimately remains a one-sided fantasy of hegemony.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839273525466250/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.