During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, United States President Donald Trump reiterated his criticism of Russia’s ongoing bombardment of Ukraine, describing the attacks as irrational and excessive.
“They are bombing like crazy,” Trump stated, expressing confusion over Moscow’s continued military operations despite what he characterised as American efforts to broker a ceasefire on the Russian-Ukrainian front.
However, President Trump stopped short of outlining any potential retaliatory measures or shifts in policy towards the Kremlin. Instead, he suggested that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were making progress — a claim not substantiated by recent developments. In reality, no substantial diplomatic movement has been recorded between Washington and Moscow. The recent visit of Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev to the U.S. capital underscored the lack of tangible progress.
In addition to the situation in Ukraine, Trump also made reference to purported direct talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled for the upcoming Saturday. The statement quickly gained traction in international media due to its apparent departure from Iran’s long-standing refusal to engage in direct negotiations with Washington. However, subsequent clarifications revealed that the talks would be indirect, facilitated by Omani diplomats in Amman, with the American and Iranian delegations placed in separate rooms. The U.S. team is expected to be led by Special Representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will head his country’s delegation.
Trump’s initial assertion appeared either to have misrepresented the nature of the meeting or to have been subject to ambiguous phrasing. Observers noted that Tehran, reportedly following Moscow’s counsel, is not seeking swift outcomes from the talks. Instead, Iran may be attempting to protract negotiations in the hope that President Trump becomes increasingly preoccupied with domestic issues, thereby weakening his administration’s capacity to act decisively either in Ukraine or against Iran’s nuclear ambitions — ambitions Tehran continues to deny.
The press conference also coincided with renewed scrutiny of Trump’s global tariff policies. Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to meet Trump following the imposition of a broad set of tariffs, which affected imports from numerous countries, including Israel. Despite expectations that Netanyahu might negotiate a reduction or exemption — particularly as U.S. exports to the Israel are largely tariff-free while Israeli goods entering U.S. face tariffs of up to 17% — no concessions were made. Trump maintained that the tariffs would remain, asserting that the United States already extends considerable support to Israel.
This reaffirmation of Trump’s tariff stance surprised some analysts, especially given dissent within his own advisory circle. Prominent business figures, including Elon Musk, have openly criticised the administration’s approach. Nevertheless, Trump appears determined to uphold the policy, even at the cost of straining relations with longstanding allies.
The discussion turned briefly to Turkey and the evolving geopolitical landscape in Syria. Trump made favourable remarks about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, calling him a key actor in the region. In a statement that raised eyebrows, Trump described Erdoğan as the first leader in two millennia to “take control” of Syria — a comment interpreted by some as diminishing the legitimacy of the new Syrian government, which replaced the Assad regime with the backing of Turkish forces.
Trump suggested that Netanyahu should act as a mediator in Turkish-Israeli relations, but also implied that Israel should proceed cautiously with Turkey, given Erdoğan’s perceived support for groups such as Hamas. This ambivalence did little to clarify the U.S. position, particularly amid tensions over Gaza and broader regional dynamics.
Trump’s description of Syria under its new interim leadership — established with Erdoğan’s military backing — as effectively subordinate to Ankara could undermine the fledgling government’s credibility. It may also complicate efforts to unify the country, which remains divided, with several minority groups yet to be integrated into the political process.
Critics argue that such statements from the U.S. President risk further destabilising an already volatile region. By characterising the Syrian leadership as a proxy of Turkey, Trump may inadvertently bolster Moscow’s narrative of illegitimacy surrounding the new authorities in Damascus. This could provide Russia with additional pretext to intensify its involvement in Syria, possibly under the guise of protecting residual elements of the former Assad regime.
Trump’s public admiration for Erdoğan, reminiscent of his past praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, reinforces perceptions of a U.S. foreign policy increasingly guided by strong personal affiliations rather than strategic coherence. While he continues to claim diplomatic progress on multiple fronts, including Ukraine and Iran, the practical outcomes of these efforts remain, at present, largely unverified.
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