Part 5/10:
Trump’s straightforward style, combined with his history of recognizing Russia’s true intentions—often perceiving Putin as bluffing—suggests he will be particularly attentive to inconsistencies in Putin's messaging. If Putin attempts to play hardball and yields nothing during negotiations, Trump is likely to interpret that as a sign of bad faith, potentially leading him to escalate secondary sanctions or increase pressure on countries allied with Russia, like India or others trading with Moscow.