COLUMN: Russia Humiliates Trump: The Art of Diplomacy as a Stab in the Back

The Trap of Sanctions That Achieve Nothing

Trump built his strategy around sanctions—sanctions described as “enormous” and “devastating,” meant to force Russia to back down. Yet it’s clear that they’ve been useless. The Russian economy has adapted. Oil exports continue, via back channels. Alliances with China and Iran are strengthening. And Putin, for his part, shows no sign of weakness. Worse, he’s using these sanctions as a pretext to justify his domestic repression and his aggression in Ukraine. Trump, meanwhile, finds himself in a bind: if he lifts the sanctions, he’ll look weak in the eyes of his supporters. If he keeps them in place, he betrays his promises and proves Lavrov right. It’s a trap from which he cannot escape without losing face. And in this game, Putin is always one step ahead.

I often wonder how Ukrainians feel when they see Trump playing the role of grand strategist—he who promises to “settle” the war in 50 days, who threatens Putin with apocalyptic sanctions, who presents himself as an all-powerful savior. They know that sanctions won’t be enough. That they only prolong the agony. That they only enrich Russian oligarchs and starve the Ukrainian people. So yes, Trump can shout, threaten, and tweet. But deep down, everyone knows he’s stuck. Stuck between his impossible promises and a reality that eludes him. Stuck between a Putin who mocks him and a Ukraine that no longer believes in his miracles. And that is the worst kind of humiliation: that of a man who still believes he can bend the world to his will, while the world itself has already moved on.

50 Days for Peace? An Empty Promise

Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in 50 days—a deadline as arbitrary as it is unrealistic. Yet he’s staking everything on this promise, hoping to turn it into a powerful campaign platform for his reelection. Except that Russia, for its part, has no intention of playing along. The Abu Dhabi talks in early February 2026 made one thing clear: Moscow and Kyiv are talking—but without Trump. Without his ultimatums. Without his whims. The Kremlin even announced that a third round of negotiations would take place “soon,” without specifying whether the Americans would be invited. For Putin, Trump is nothing more than a bit player, a spoilsport who can be done without. And every day that passes without concrete progress reminds the world that the “peacemaker” is nothing more than a magician.

I remember this statement by Trump: “I’m going to end this war in 50 days.” As if war were a real estate deal. As if it could be “settled” with a phone call, a handshake, or a triumphant press release. But war isn’t like that. War is cities in ruins. Torn-apart families. Soldiers dying in the mud. And Trump, for his part, still believes he can reduce it to a line on his resume. “I ended the war in Ukraine.” As if simply saying it were enough to make it true. As if Putin were suddenly going to back down, just because Trump “ordered” it. But Putin isn’t an employee. He’s not a business partner. He’s a dictator. A man who’s spent his life playing the tough guy. And Trump, with his 50 days, his sanctions, his tweets—he’s nothing but a clown. A clown who still believes the world revolves around him. So yes, Lavrov is right: Trump is Bidenism, only worse. Because at least Biden knew he couldn’t stop the war with a snap of his fingers.

Between Trump and Putin, the EU No Longer Exists

In this standoff between Trump and Putin, Europe has become a mere bystander. The sanctions it imposes? Circumvented. The negotiations it proposes? Ignored. The weapons it sends to Ukraine? Insufficient. Worse still, Trump has made it clear that he isn’t counting on the Europeans to resolve the conflict. To him, they are nothing more than “freeloaders” and “weaklings,” incapable of defending themselves. The result: the EU finds itself reduced to the role of a powerless spectator, while the United States and Russia face off in a game of bluffing poker in which Ukraine is the stake. And with each passing day, the transatlantic divide widens a little more, leaving Europe voiceless, powerless, and without influence.

I think of Europe. Of that Europe which, just a few years ago, believed it could shape the course of world events. Which believed in its diplomacy, its values, and its moral strength. Today, it is nothing more than a ghost. A ghost that watches, powerless, as Trump and Putin divide up Ukraine like a piece of cake. A ghost that hears Lavrov laughing at its sanctions, that sees its own leaders divided, hesitant, unable to speak with one voice. And I wonder: where has that Europe gone—the one that dared to say no? That dared to resist? That dared to offer an alternative? Today, it is nothing more than a field of diplomatic ruins. A continent that has forgotten how to fight. A continent that has forgotten how to win. And that, perhaps, is Putin’s greatest victory: having silenced Europe. Because a silent Europe is a Europe that no longer exists.

Between Propaganda and Truth: The Difficult Balance

In the face of this war of words, the media plays an ambiguous role. Some outlets, such as Fox News, amplify Trump’s statements, presenting his sanctions as “masterstrokes” and his ultimatums as “victories.” Others, such as the Washington Post and the New York Times, highlight the ineffectiveness of his policy, Moscow’s contempt, and American powerlessness. Yet, amid this media fog, one thing is certain: truth is the first casualty. Between the Pentagon’s triumphant press releases, the Kremlin’s denials, and conflicting analyses, the public no longer knows what to believe. And that is precisely what Trump and Putin want: a world where facts no longer matter. Where the only thing that counts is the version you choose to believe.

I remember a time when the media served as a counterweight to power. When they dared to speak uncomfortable truths. When they refused to be manipulated. Today, they have become mouthpieces. Mouthpieces for Trump, who shouts about his imaginary victories. A mouthpiece for Putin, who spins his lies with a smile. And the public is lost. Lost in an ocean of disinformation, half-truths, and disguised propaganda. So yes, there are still journalists who resist. Who dig deeper. Who fact-check. Who dare to say that the emperor has no clothes. But they are becoming increasingly rare. And with each passing day, they become a little more invisible. A little more inaudible. And that is the real tragedy: a world where the truth is no longer valued. Where it no longer has a place. Where it no longer has any meaning.

The Narrow Path Between Capitulation and Escalation

Faced with the failure of his strategy, Trump doesn’t have many options left. Either he capitulates, lifts the sanctions, and tries to save face by negotiating some kind of deal with Putin. Or he doubles down, tightens the sanctions, and risks an escalation that could lead to a direct conflict with Russia. In either case, he loses. Because Putin has already won: he has shown that Trump is nothing more than a paper tiger. That he could manipulate him, outmaneuver him, and humiliate him. And that, despite all his tweets, threats, and promises, he could do nothing to stop the war. So today, Trump finds himself facing an impossible choice. A choice that, no matter what he decides, will seal his failure. And that is the worst humiliation of all: that of a man who still believes he can control everything, while the world has already decided his fate.

I often wonder how Americans feel when they see their president struggling like this. He who promised to “make America great again.” He who swore to “win” every war. He who presented himself as a savior, a victor, the master of the game. Today, he is nothing more than a shadow of his former self. A man shouting into the void. A man whom no one listens to anymore. A man whom even his enemies no longer take seriously. So yes, he can still make threats. He can still tweet. He can still make promises. But everyone knows it’s all hot air. Everyone knows he’s lost. Not just to Putin. But to himself. Against that image of omnipotence he has spent his life building. And today, it’s crumbling. Not under bombs. Not under sanctions. But under laughter. Lavrov’s laughter. Putin’s laughter. The laughter of the whole world. And that is a defeat from which he will never recover.

Don’t Let Trump Rewrite History

In this war of words, public opinion has a crucial role to play: to refuse to let Trump rewrite history; to refuse to believe that his sanctions are effective; to refuse to think that his ultimatums scare Putin; to refuse to be lulled by his empty promises. Because if we close our eyes, if we accept his lies, then we become accomplices. Accomplices in this endless war. Accomplices in these shattered lives. Accomplices in this diplomacy that is nothing more than a spectacle. So today, we must say no. No to propaganda. No to illusions. No to impunity. Because the truth is that Trump has failed. And as long as we don’t admit it, he will continue to drag us into his delusion.

I end this article with a cold anger. Anger at these men who treat lives like pawns. Anger at these lies that pile up, these promises that vanish, these victims we forget. But also with a determination. The determination not to remain silent. The determination not to let Trump, Putin, or anyone else rewrite history as they please. Because history isn’t about tweets. It isn’t about press releases. It’s about facts. About lives. About truth. So today, I choose to fight. Not with weapons. Not with sanctions. But with words. Because sometimes, words are the last line of defense against barbarism. And you—which side will you be on?

Trump Confronts Himself: The Moment of Truth

Lavrov’s insult is not merely a diplomatic jab. It is a mirror held up to Trump—a mirror that reflects the image of a weak, fickle president, incapable of keeping his promises. A president who still believes he can impose his will on the world, even as the world has already moved on. Facing Putin, Trump has failed. Facing Ukraine, he has failed. Facing his own citizens, he fails a little more every day. And today, he finds himself exposed. Exposed, facing a smirking Lavrov. Exposed, facing a Putin who despises him. Exposed, facing a world that can clearly see that the emperor has no clothes. So yes, Lavrov delivered the ultimate insult. Not by calling Trump a liar. But by calling him useless. And that is a wound even Trump won’t be able to heal.

I don’t know what the future holds for Trump. I don’t know if he’ll manage to recover from this humiliation. But I know one thing: today, he lost. Not just to Putin. But to himself. Against that image of omnipotence he has spent his life building. And today, it’s crumbling. Not under bombs. Not under sanctions. But under laughter. Lavrov’s laughter. Putin’s laughter. The laughter of the whole world. So today, I choose not to laugh. I choose to remember. To remember the lives shattered. The promises betrayed. The lies piled up. Because the real victory isn’t seeing Trump humiliated. It’s never forgetting what he did. What he promised. What he failed to deliver. And to say, once and for all: enough.

Signed, Jacques Provost