Trump Seen in Moscow as a Wrecking Force for the Western Alliance
(STEVE ROSENBERG/MOSCOW) – A sharp winter freeze has settled over the Russian capital, turning the Moskva River into a broad sheet of ice. During particularly cold spells, ice breaking vessels move steadily through the frozen water, carving paths and leaving broken slabs drifting behind them.
Standing on the river embankment in recent days, the scene prompted reflection on how many in Moscow now view events unfolding far beyond Russia’s borders. What appears on the surface as a routine winter operation has become, for some commentators here, a metaphor for global politics.
In this telling, a powerful icebreaker is moving forward at speed, breaking apart established structures and unsettling long standing alliances. In Russian political commentary, that vessel is frequently compared to Donald Trump.
The United States president has drawn attention for demanding greater control over Greenland, arguing that such a move would protect the territory from the influence of China and Russia. While saying he would not use force, he has publicly criticised Denmark, NATO allies and European governments, language that has caused unease across the Western alliance.
In Moscow, such tensions are widely welcomed. Pro Kremlin media outlets have openly expressed satisfaction at signs of discord in Europe and North America. One tabloid described the situation as a pleasure to watch, reflecting a belief that any weakening of Western unity represents a strategic gain for the Kremlin.
Russian commentators argue that when Washington applies pressure in the name of national security, it sets a precedent that Moscow can then cite in defence of its own actions. This line of reasoning has been used to justify Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, portraying it as comparable to Western interventions elsewhere.
There is clear approval in Moscow for aspects of Trump’s approach. Unlike President Joe Biden, Trump does not focus his public messaging on human rights or democratic values. He has acknowledged what he describes as Russia’s security concerns and has spoken of closer ties and transactional partnerships.
Kremlin aligned analysts also point to Trump’s readiness to apply pressure on Ukraine and on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They believe this would improve Moscow’s chances of ending the war on terms favourable to Russia, rather than on conditions set by Kyiv and its allies.
However, some Russian observers warn that enthusiasm may be misplaced. One consequence of Trump’s political style is unpredictability, a quality that introduces risk as well as opportunity.
Konstantin Remchukov, editor in chief of the independent newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, argues that unpredictability can destabilise not only international relations but also those who expect to benefit from it. He draws on literary references to illustrate how uncertainty can unsettle entire societies when legal norms are undermined.
This sense of unpredictability is visible on the streets of Moscow. Passers by describe Trump as inconsistent, likening his actions to a performance in which one position is adopted one day and abandoned the next. Some say they initially believed he could be favourable to Russia, only to later question his confrontational stance towards countries such as Venezuela.
In a recent interview with the New York Times, Trump was asked what limits his global power. He replied that only his own morality and judgement could restrain him. For Russian commentators such as Remchukov, that answer is troubling.
If international law is replaced by the personal judgement of a leader with overwhelming military power, he argues, the world enters a far more dangerous and unstable phase. Even states that believe they stand to gain from such disorder may ultimately find themselves exposed to its consequences.
