Most Americans don't trust Trump's judgment on Ukraine - Politico
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Most Americans doubt US President Donald Trump's ability to make smart decisions regarding Russia's war against Ukraine. A loss of confidence is observed even among Republicans, reports Politico, citing Pew Research Center survey data.
Trust of Americans is declining
Nearly 60% of Americans are either "not too confident" or "not at all confident" that Trump can make smart decisions on matters of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Democrats trust the president significantly less than Republicans. Trust is also declining among Republicans: 73% said they are confident in Trump, down from 81% in July 2024.
Views on Ukraine and US aid
Americans are evenly divided on whether the US should assist Ukraine in the war, with Democrats much more likely to support such aid.
Compared with March, fewer Americans now believe Trump is too favorable toward Russia. This shift is linked to his increasingly critical statements about Russia's actions in recent months.
Trump-Putin summit in Alaska
The White House sought to lower expectations ahead of the Alaska meeting, calling it a “listening exercise.” However, Trump said he expects Putin to take the talks seriously, threatening “very severe consequences” if Moscow does not take steps to end the war.
Trump's meeting with Putin is scheduled for today, August 15. It will take place in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city.
Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov later reported that the meeting in Alaska will start at 10:30 pm Kyiv time (according to the White House, it is scheduled to begin at 10 pm Kyiv time). It will be a one-on-one meeting with translators present.
The US president stated that the main goal of his negotiations with Putin is to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. He emphasized that any decisions regarding Ukrainian territories will be made only with Kyiv’s participation.
