Not even the Republicans saw this coming: Trump has once again shifted his stance toward Moscow, so Congress has already prepared a strong response

The main reason for Donald Trump’s shift toward the aggressor nation was his crushing diplomatic failure in negotiations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Beijing refused to make concessions to Washington, forcing Trump to seek quick financial gains through an alliance with Vladimir Putin.

Against this backdrop, a bipartisan majority in the U.S. Congress has already set in motion a mechanism to strictly block any attempts by the new administration to purchase Russian energy resources. However, the U.S. president continues to openly sympathize with the Russian dictator.

Speaking exclusively to Channel 24, public figure and president of the Ronald Reagan Republican Club Boris Pinkus revealed the true goal of Trump’s policy toward Russia, explained how he is “betraying” his own party, and outlined what Ukraine must do next.

Lawmakers are trying to stop Trump

Donald Trump’s decision to purchase 300,000 metric tons of Russian diesel fuel provoked an immediate and harsh reaction from the American establishment. This move effectively nullified previous promises of support for Ukraine and forced lawmakers to take preemptive action.

Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania initiated a signature drive in the House of Representatives for a bill that would explicitly prohibits Trump from entering into any agreements with Russia regarding energy resources.

The initiative quickly secured the required minimum of 218 votes on a bipartisan basis. The focus has now shifted to the Senate, where negotiations are underway with Majority Leader John Thune and influential Republicans such as Ted Cruz and John Kennedy. The lawmakers’ goal is to pass a law with a clearly defined timeline for taking effect, which would prevent the president from manipulating the timing of its implementation.

It is telling that Russia itself is currently physically incapable of meeting its stated supply targets. According to September data, the Russian oil industry fell short by 42,000 barrels due to systematic and successful strikes by Ukrainian drones on oil refineries.

The Real Reason Behind the Shift Toward Moscow

According to Pinkus, Trump’s sudden shift in rhetoric – his demands that Ukraine cease strikes on Russian refineries and restrict Starlink operations – has deeper geopolitical underpinnings than simply a desire to reach an agreement with the Kremlin. The fundamental cause was the new administration’s diplomatic defeat on the China front.

The meeting with Xi Jinping in Washington on September 24 demonstrated Trump’s complete inability to impose his terms on Beijing. Despite a lavish red-carpet reception and the involvement of executives from the most powerful American corporations in the field of artificial intelligence, the Chinese leader ignored the pressure. The only outcome of the negotiations was a formal extension of the current trade agreement for just two months – from November through January.

Xi Jinping has opted for a wait-and-see strategy. Neither a quick victory nor a total defeat for Russia is in Beijing’s interest. At the same time, China has an interest in ensuring that the U.S. continues to deplete its resources in the Middle East and discredit itself on the international stage. Faced with China’s hardline stance – which refused to make any concessions – Trump was forced to look for easier ways to demonstrate foreign policy “successes.”

After being rebuffed by Beijing, Trump’s inner circle revived an old strategy – an attempt to drive a wedge between Russia and China. Steve Witkoff plays a key role in this process, maintaining constant contact with Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev.

It is through these back channels that the Kremlin has made a comprehensive proposal to Washington, one based exclusively on financial interests. Putin is offering access to rare earth metals, oil, and gas; joint development of the Arctic; and even the resumption of the “Nord Stream” project. For Trump and his business circle, this means direct financial benefits, particularly through the involvement of companies such as Lukoil.

The thirst for quick money takes precedence over U.S. strategic interests. This is evident even at the everyday level, as seen in the case of The Trump family's parties are paid for by Russian oligarchsfrom the Russian dictator’s inner circle.

A Betrayal of Republican Ideals

The administration’s actions are causing shock even within the Republican Party, which has traditionally espoused the principle of “peace through strength.” Trump openly disregards the legacy of influential fellow party members. Specifically, this refers to the severe sanctions packages developed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. At the time, Trump publicly promised to implement these sanctions in memory of his friend, yet he is now doing exactly the opposite.

The successful advancement of Fitzpatrick’s initiative in the Senate rests precisely on this foundation: at the time, 81 senators supported Graham’s “draconian sanctions.” This same bipartisan majority – which includes both Republicans and Democrats committed to Ukraine (such as Senators Blumenthal and Shaheen) – is ready to block energy agreements with the Kremlin. The American people and the political establishment are not prepared to allow the president to single-handedly change the country’s geopolitical course for the sake of dubious business interests.

Trump is confident of his impunity

Trump’s blatant disregard for national interests and potential corruption investigations stems from his unique interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, particularly the president’s right to grant pardons.

The precedent set by Joe Biden, who pardoned his son Hunter (a subject of investigations linked to Burisma and Ukrainian funds), has given Trump confidence in his own absolute impunity. He is convinced that he will be able to apply this mechanism to himself, his family, and his business partners in the event of any criminal prosecutions.

Historically, the Founding Fathers of the United States – particularly Alexander Hamilton – viewed the power of pardon, which they enshrined in the Constitution, as a tool for correcting judicial errors. In response to critics’ concerns about the potential abuse of this right to protect the president’s relatives or friends, Hamilton argued that public condemnation would serve as a safeguard – society simply would not allow such a pardon to be granted. However, the realities of modern American politics show that this moral safeguard, established in the 18th century, has now developed a serious crack.

Lessons for Ukraine

Against the backdrop of political turbulence in the U.S. and the manipulation of constitutional norms, the situation paradoxically highlights the strengths of Ukrainian democracy. Despite the war and domestic problems, Ukraine has independent anti-corruption agencies, such as NABU, whose work is highly regarded by American partners.

The crisis surrounding the institution of presidential pardons in the U.S. – where politicians use it to shield their own families from corruption investigations – should serve as an important lesson for Ukraine during its postwar recovery. The architecture of state institutions must be designed to prevent such precedents, relying not only on the moral character of leaders but also on strict legislative safeguards.