Trump’s Push for Deals With Russia Powers His Frustration With Ukraine
The series of recent steps by the president that seem to favor Vladimir Putin reflect his intensifying desire to normalize the relationship with Moscow even if it means further undercutting Ukraine. The New York Times Published Oct. 19, 2026 Updated Oct. 20, 2026, 3:19 a.m. ET By David E. Sanger David E. Sanger has covered five American presidents in over four decades at the Times. He often writes about the re-emergence of superpower conflict, the subject of his most recent book. Now the article: He [President Trump] shunted aside a bipartisan law, signed just weeks ago, imposing new tariffs on Russia. He cut a deal to purchase diesel from Moscow. His negotiators agreed on the vague outlines of a deal for much of Lukoil, a battered Russian energy firm. And he called for the replacement of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, whose success in taking the fight inside Russia deeply frustrates him. President Trump’s intensifying effort in the past few weeks to rehabilitate Russi...