Trump/Russia/Ukraine

As Trump seeks to alienate NATO and former allies he has sought closer relations with Russia. That is certainly no secret. 

Trumps association with Russia goes back to 1987, and he has continued to have business and financial ties, interests, and reliance on Russia according to Donald Trump Jr:

"A 2008 quote from President Donald Trump's eldest son about his family's assets resurfaced on Sunday in a New York Times op-ed article.

'In terms of high-end product influx into the US, Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets,' Donald Trump Jr. said at a New York real-estate conference that year. 'Say, in Dubai, and certainly with our project in SoHo, and anywhere in New York. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.'" https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-jr-said-money-pouring-in-from-russia-2018-2 

The Trumps continue to seek ties with Russia as well as former Soviet Bloc countries. Don Trump Jr recently traveled to the Balkans. While in Hungary at a closed business meeting he said something that disturbed me deeply.

A reliable news source covering Balkan affairs reported:

"Although the business forum was not covered by the media, Donald Trump Jr outlined his mission in a short interview, revealing at the same time that he was looking for allies of the Trump administration among people and countries who 'share our values and beliefs. I see the [Central and Eastern European] region as the last bastion of hope,' he said."

Bear in mind that the Balkans are not bastions of freedom: Surveillance and Censorship Worsening in Western Balkans: BIRN Report

 The very countries that have increasing surveilance and oppression Don Jr sees as "the last bastions of hope." 

Let that sink in. 

The Trump family appears to have a different set of values from traditional Americans. Most of us are more in line with Reagan's view of Russia and its repressive satelites as " the evil empire"

I bring this into focus in order to try to make sense of the statements from Trump about the war in Ukraine. According to Trump Russia is crushing Ukraine, and Zelensky " isnt holding any cards." He further is adamant about ending the war quickly. So is Putin...

Putin's "special operation" has extended for years beyond his initial prediction of weeks. It has also and consequently cost the Russian economy dearly. At this point the Russian economy is suffering and more than 800,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine. Untrained conscripts and prisoners are now being sent there. News reports from the region also arent painting a picture of victory. Russian missiles do inflict damages on Ukrainian cities, but there is no forward movement of troops, and Russian casualties are heavy.

Russia is not "winning" despite Trump's claims. But given his financial interests in Russia and Don Jrs recent pro Russian sympathies I question Trump's motives for wanting a quick end to Russia's attempted annexation of Ukraine. He seems to want this to end for the same reasons Putin does, and I suspect for personal gain.