Russia Sees Trump’s Shift Against Ukraine as a Major Win

Russian officials are treating recent US actions against Ukraine as a major victory, viewing them as proof that Western support for Kyiv is collapsing. The moves follow a phone call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The US president has taken steps favoring Russia, including a sanctions waiver for Russian diesel, throttling Ukraine's access to satellite systems, and holding up interceptor missiles. Trump also called for Zelensky's removal, while European leaders met in Oslo to counter this shift. Kremlin officials have openly celebrated the developments, with one envoy posting "Checkmate." Analysts say Putin exploited Trump's concerns about approval ratings and energy prices, though the diesel deal would have minimal impact on US markets.