Judging Freedom Gilbert Doctorow : Has Russia Lost Trust in Trump’s Leadership?
Mar 4, 2026
Gilbert Doctorow, veteran analyst of Russian and European affairs, offers a compact geopolitical tour. He discusses Kremlin pressure on Putin to end the Ukraine war. He examines Russian shock at Trump's strikes on Iran and media critiques of Putin's leadership. He considers potential Kremlin responses, Lavrov's influence, shifting oil flows, and the political effects of asymmetric attacks.
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Russian Elite Alarm Over Trump Strike Model
- Russian elites fear Trump's preemptive strike model could be used against Russia, prompting unusually sharp criticism of Putin's slow war strategy on state TV.
- Shock from Trump's attack on Iran loosened lips, making analysts call Putin's approach slow, irresolute, and inviting escalation.
Unchallenged U.S. Spy Flights Heighten Russian Anxiety
- Visibility of U.S. reconnaissance flights and apparent failure to shoot them down has deeply unsettled Russian commentators who recall past shoot-downs like Gary Powers.
- Russians question why modern spy flights along their borders remain unchallenged, implying vulnerability.
Kremlin Pressure Could Topple Putin If He Appears Weak
- Domestic pressure inside the Kremlin is intense and could force Putin to change course quickly or risk removal if he re-enters negotiations seen as capitulation.
- Alexander Dugin published a devastating critique of Putin's conduct, and his stature makes that critique politically dangerous for the president.