Part 3/11:
Trump’s threats to escalate sanctions or to push Ukraine into striking Moscow have been recurrent but lack follow-through, leading Russia and its allies to dismiss his threats as rhetorical. As Schub notes, “Russia isn't taking him seriously,” partly because Trump has often flip-flopped, offering warnings that he hasn't fully enforced. This has undercut US credibility and diminished the effectiveness of deterrence efforts. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, skepticism persists as promises remain unfulfilled, and skepticism grows over whether Trump's stance is a genuine strategy or mere rhetoric.