In early 2017, American intelligence agencies gave an unequivocal assessment about why Russian President Vladimir V. Putin had ordered a wide-ranging effort to disrupt the recent American presidential election.
The agencies found that Mr. Putin aimed to undermine American faith in their own elections and weaken the United States-led “liberal world order,” which Russia sees as a security threat. The assessment determined that Russia worked to assist Donald J. Trump’s presidential victory.
Eight years later, during a meeting in the Oval Office with Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky, Mr. Trump dismissed the idea of Russian interference, labeling it a “phony witch hunt” and aligning himself with Mr. Putin against alleged common adversaries, such as Democratic lawmakers, European leaders, and the U.S. “deep state.”
The relationship between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin has been under scrutiny due to the array of theories surrounding Mr. Trump’s affinity for a Russian leader who undermines American interests. Despite the evidence, there’s no single, straightforward explanation, but Mr. Trump’s actions since returning to office indicate a consistent alignment with Kremlin interests.
Mr. Trump has accused Mr. Zelensky of starting the war in Ukraine, cut off vital intelligence to Ukraine, and gutted foreign aid programs that Russia opposes. He has also sidelined European allies and attempted to act as a broker in the Ukraine conflict.
Critics, including Susan Miller, former head of counterintelligence at the CIA, believe Mr. Trump’s affinity for Mr. Putin stems from “autocrat envy,” as Trump appears to admire Putin’s unchecked power in Russia. This perspective helps explain the mutual interests and alignment in their strategies.
Russia is seen as benefiting greatly from the dismantling of the U.S.-led international order, a long-standing goal of Putin’s. Both Dmitry Peskov and Sergey V. Lavrov, prominent Russian officials, have praised Mr. Trump’s decisions, indicating a substantial level of satisfaction with his policies.
Lavrov presents a different view of world history, blaming European nations for past tragedies and whitewashing the role of the U.S., which contradicts traditional Kremlin narratives.
Susan Miller emphasizes that the Russian interference aimed to spread disinformation and undermine democracy, but the agencies were meticulous in their nonpartisan evaluation of the impact on Trump’s victory. Despite this, Mr. Trump has harbored continued anger over the “Russia hoax,” viewing Putin as an ally in his perceived victimhood.
The alignment between Trump and Putin’s public views on Ukraine has grown closer, with Trump’s policies since his return to power leading to an expansion of this common stance, which has become a focal point in international politics.
The House impeached Mr. Trump in part due to his handling of a phone call with Mr. Zelensky, where he linked military aid to political favors. This episode intensified Mr. Trump’s radical perspective on Ukraine and the “deep state,” shaping Republican views in alignment with Putin’s rhetoric.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s framing of the Ukraine conflict as a “proxy war” between the U.S. and Russia, rather than a clear case of Russian aggression, illustrates a growing convergence between the positions of the White House and the Kremlin.
