Putin Watches as US-Ukraine Rift Deepens
The dramatic confrontation in the Oval Office on Friday triggered swift reactions from world leaders—except one.
Vladimir Putin has remained silent.
But he doesn’t need to say anything. The Russian president can simply sit back and watch events unfold, knowing that the spectacle in Washington plays to his advantage.
Donald Trump had predicted that his heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would make "great television," and there’s little doubt that Putin found the display entertaining. Watching the leader of Ukraine—his longtime adversary—being publicly chastised by both the US president and vice president was a moment the Kremlin likely relished.
Russian Officials Mock Zelensky
While Putin has kept quiet, other Russian officials wasted no time reacting.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of the Russian security council, mocked Zelensky’s treatment in Washington, calling it "a slap down in the Oval Office." He urged the US to cut military aid to Ukraine—an outcome Moscow would welcome.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova took to Telegram to praise Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their "miracle of restraint" in not physically striking Ukraine’s leader.
US-Ukraine Tensions, US-Russia Reconciliation?
In an unexpected shift, as Washington’s relationship with Kyiv teeters on the brink, its ties with Moscow appear to be improving.
In recent weeks, Trump and Putin have spoken by phone, pledging closer cooperation. Talks of a potential summit are circulating, and lower-level negotiations between US and Russian officials have already begun, focusing on resetting relations and exploring economic collaboration.
Putin has even floated the idea of lucrative joint ventures in rare earth minerals and aluminum production—an enticing offer as global markets shift.
What This Means for Ukraine and Russia
For Ukraine, a breakdown in relations with the US carries grave consequences. American military aid has been critical to Kyiv’s defense against Russian forces. If that support were to stop, Ukraine would face an even steeper uphill battle, despite the backing of European allies.
For Moscow, however, the implications are far more positive.
Russia has long believed that momentum in the war is shifting in its favor. The high-profile clash between Trump and Zelensky will only reinforce that belief, giving the Kremlin further confidence that time—and political turmoil in the West—may ultimately play to Russia’s advantage.
