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Honestly, if you’ve spent any time watching the news lately, you've probably wondered why Donald Trump seems to have this weirdly soft spot for Russia. It’s a question that has haunted American politics since about 2016. Fast forward to January 2026, and the drama hasn't really slowed down. Just last week, we saw reports of Trump’s team—specifically Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—heading back from Moscow, and the rhetoric is just as confusing as it ever was.
Trump says Putin is "ready to make a deal." He says Zelenskyy is the one holding up peace in Ukraine. To a lot of people, it looks like he’s basically carrying water for the Kremlin. But when you peel back the layers, the "why" is a messy mix of old-school business logic, a deep-seated hatred for the "establishment," and a very specific vision for how the world should work. It isn't just one thing. It's a whole vibe.
The "America First" Realignment
Basically, Trump doesn't see the world through the same lens as the generals at the Pentagon or the career diplomats in D.C. He sees it as a series of deals. In his mind, the old alliance system—the one where the U.S. pays for everyone’s defense through NATO—is a total ripoff.
He’s been incredibly vocal about this. He recently told The New York Times that Russia isn’t even worried about NATO; they’re only worried about us. This "Great Power" worldview is essentially a return to the 19th century. He wants spheres of influence. We take the Western Hemisphere (and maybe Greenland, if he gets his way), and Russia stays in its neighborhood.
It’s transactional. He isn't necessarily "pro-Russia" in the sense that he loves the country; he just doesn't think the U.S. should be the world's policeman. He’s called the war in Ukraine a "waste of time" and argued that Europe should be the one paying for it. By taking a softer tone with Putin, he’s basically trying to clear the deck so he can focus on what he considers the real threat: China.
The Personal Connection and the "Kindred Spirit" Theory
You've got to look at the personalities involved. Trump has always had a thing for "strongman" leaders. Whether it's Putin, Orban, or even Kim Jong Un, he respects people who can wield absolute power without being bogged down by a Congress or a prying press.
Experts like those at the Fair Observer suggest Trump sees Putin as a "kindred spirit." They both feel like outsiders fighting a corrupt system. Putin rails against the "liberal international order," and Trump rails against the "Deep State." When they talk, it’s not just two heads of state; it’s two guys who think everyone else is out to get them.
The History Nobody Can Quite Ignore
There is also that long, murky history that keeps coming up. We're talking decades.
- 1987: Trump’s first trip to Moscow to look at hotel sites.
- 2013: The Miss Universe pageant in Moscow.
- 2016: The infamous Helsinki summit where he seemed to trust Putin over his own intelligence agencies.
Even now in 2026, there are still people talking about old KGB cultivation theories. Whether or not you believe the "kompromat" stuff, the sheer volume of contacts between Trump’s inner circle and Russian operatives is a fact. The Moscow Project documented hundreds of these contacts. While the Mueller report didn’t find a "conspiracy," it definitely showed a campaign that was more than happy to accept help from a foreign adversary.
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The Current State of Play (January 2026)
Right now, the situation is tense. Trump’s administration has taken some weirdly contradictory steps. For example, he hasn't sanctioned a single Russian shadow fleet tanker since he got back into office, even though the UK and EU have sanctioned hundreds. On the flip side, he slapped a 25% tariff on India just for buying Russian oil.
It's "America First" in action. He’s using Russia as a pawn to get what he wants from other countries.
| Country/Entity | Trump's 2026 Action | The "Russia" Angle |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | Pushing for a ceasefire on Russian terms | Wants the war over to save money |
| India | 25% Tariffs | Punishment for funding Putin's war chest |
| NATO | Threatened to leave over Greenland | Believes the alliance is obsolete |
| Venezuela | Military pressure to "kick out" Russia | Reasserting the Monroe Doctrine |
The irony? While Trump talks a big game about being friends with Putin, his actions in places like Venezuela—where he basically told Russia to get out—actually make things pretty difficult for the Kremlin. He wants to be the one in charge of the global order, and that means even Putin has to follow his rules.
Why Trump Still Matters for Russia
Russia's economy isn't collapsing, despite what people thought would happen. They’ve pivoted to China and Iran. But they still need a "deal" to end the war in Ukraine because they're burning through tanks and men at an insane rate.
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Trump is their best shot at a "good" deal. He’s already signaled that he’s okay with Ukraine giving up the Donbas. He’s already signaled that he won't necessarily rearm Ukraine if a deal falls through. For Putin, Trump isn't necessarily an "ally," but he’s a much better option than a traditional U.S. president who would keep the sanctions on forever.
What You Can Do to Stay Informed
It’s easy to get lost in the "he said, she said" of cable news. If you want to actually understand why Trump is pro-Russia—or at least why he acts that way—you need to look at the source material.
- Read the Transcripts: Don't just watch the clips. Read the full interviews with the New York Times or Reuters. You’ll see the nuance (and the contradictions) in his own words.
- Follow the Money: Watch the sanctions. The Brookings Institution tracks which tankers are being hit and which aren't. That’s the real "policy" at work.
- Check the "Great Power" Logic: Look up the "Realist" school of international relations (guys like John Mearsheimer). Trump’s foreign policy actually makes a lot of sense if you look at it through that specific, somewhat cynical, lens.
At the end of the day, Trump’s stance on Russia is a mix of his personal ego, his business background, and a genuine belief that the U.S. needs to stop caring so much about what happens in Europe. It’s not necessarily about being "pro-Russia"; it’s about being "pro-Trump’s-vision-of-America." And in that vision, Russia is just another player on the board.
To get a deeper sense of how this impacts the global economy, your next step should be to look into the specific 2026 sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil to see how they've affected gas prices at home.