Trump wants to clip Putin’s wings – Weekend

The once cordial relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin appears to be over. Trump is now reportedly considering serious punitive measures against Russia. In response, the Russian leader is preparing for potential retaliatory strikes.

It has been reported that the conference previously planned by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the recognition of Palestine will now take place at the end of July.

Meanwhile, the President of the Syrian Transitional Government, Ahmed al-Shara, has opened a new chapter in Syrian diplomacy, which had remained stagnant for 24 years. His latest visit was to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose influence on the international stage continues to grow.

Details of these and other global developments from the past week are featured in the Weekend program on QALAMPIR.UZ.

Does Macron want to recognize Palestine?

In May, France—currently seen as a leading voice in Europe—brought some hope to Palestine. French President Emmanuel Macron, in coordination with Saudi Arabia, announced plans to hold a conference aimed at securing international recognition of Palestine. The conference was initially scheduled for June 17–20 at the UN headquarters in New York, under the joint leadership of Saudi Arabia and France.

However, on June 13, amid the escalation of armed conflict between Israel and Iran, Macron postponed the event, citing "logistical and security issues." Consequently, the political gathering was delayed due to Israel's military operations against Iran.

Nonetheless, it was later announced that this high-level international conference, which could influence developments across the Middle East, would now take place on July 28–30 at the UN headquarters in New York. The announcement by a UN official suggests that substantial outcomes may be expected from the event.

During the postponement period, Macron did not remain idle. He worked to build a coalition of global support, calling on world leaders to join the effort. For example, during his July 8 speech to the House of Lords and House of Commons in the British Parliament, Macron urged the United Kingdom to recognize the State of Palestine.

A critical point worth highlighting is the current status of Palestine’s recognition. Of the 193 UN member states, 148 have recognized Palestine. Additionally, 95 countries host Palestinian embassies or permanent missions. Conversely, Israel’s recognition among neighboring Middle Eastern countries remains more limited. As of now, 164 countries recognize the Jewish state.

Most nations, including Uzbekistan, continue to advocate for a "two states for two peoples" solution to the longstanding 80-year conflict. This proposal envisions an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting peacefully alongside Israel. Notably, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has repeatedly voiced support for this principle at various international forums.

Pezeshkian: A close call

New details are emerging about Israel’s attacks on Iran, including reported acts of violence, assassinations, and attempted killings. Among the revelations, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently claimed in an interview with world-renowned journalist Tucker Carlson that Israel had attempted to assassinate him.

According to Pezeshkian, the attack occurred while he was attending a meeting focused on military matters. He stated that Israeli forces targeted the location of the meeting to kill him.

Subsequent reports lent credibility to Pezeshkian's claims. The Fars News Agency reported that the Iranian President sustained a minor injury during an Israeli strike on Tehran. Specifically, Pezeshkian was reportedly wounded in the leg during a bombing on June 16, which took place while Iran’s Supreme National Security Council was in session.

According to the report, Israeli forces struck the building’s entrance and exit corridors with six bombs. The blast disrupted the building’s power supply, but officials managed to escape via emergency exits.

According to the agency, Tehran is currently investigating the possibility of internal espionage, as the recent strike appears to have been executed with highly accurate coordinates. The publication noted that the operation was modeled after the Israeli attack on September 27, 2024, which targeted Hezbollah’s central headquarters near Beirut, Lebanon. That strike resulted in the death of the organization’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The precision and effectiveness of that operation strongly suggested the involvement of espionage elements.

This latest incident has led Iranian authorities to conclude that they are likely to face ongoing threats related to espionage, internal betrayal, and similar national security concerns in the foreseeable future.

Trump begins to target Putin

Putin appears to have lost Trump’s favor following their most recent phone call. No longer does the Russian leader enjoy support from the former U.S. president who once blamed Ukraine, praised Putin, and described their conversations as “excellent.” Now, Putin faces a U.S. president poised to implement harsh sanctions and punitive actions against Russia.

Six phone calls over the past seven months have yielded no results. The most recent call seemed to signal Trump’s breaking point. Soon after expressing dissatisfaction with the conversation, a wave of troubling signals began flowing toward Moscow from across the Atlantic.

The first came with the announcement—reported by Reuters—that Trump, in his second term, would deliver a new military aid package to Ukraine. The weapons are reportedly being drawn from Pentagon reserves, with the estimated value of the package around $300 million.

In addition, Trump is reportedly weighing the implementation of strict secondary sanctions against countries that continue trading oil with Russia, including China, India, and Turkey. A bipartisan-backed bill under discussion in the U.S. Senate proposes a punitive 500% tariff on imports from such nations. While Trump previously described the legislation as “overly harsh” during the first six months of his renewed relationship with Putin, he is now said to be “carefully considering” it.

A third troubling development for Moscow emerged with news that the United States might redirect frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. CBS News, citing sources, reported that President Trump is considering issuing financial assistance to Ukraine for the first time since returning to office.

Former U.S. officials revealed that the administration may seize approximately $5 billion in frozen Russian assets held in the United States and repurpose them as aid to Ukraine. The move is reportedly intended as a warning signal to Moscow. In addition, Trump still has access to \$3.85 billion in unspent funds left over from the Biden administration.

Beyond speculation and reporting, all eyes are now on Trump’s upcoming remarks. On July 14, he is expected to deliver a “major statement” regarding Russia, which could reshape the geopolitical landscape.

In an interview with NBC News, President Trump voiced disappointment with Russia’s recent actions and stated he would monitor developments closely in the coming weeks. While he did not reveal specific details, Trump did outline elements of a new arms deal involving the United States, NATO, and Ukraine. According to the agreement, the U.S. will supply weapons to NATO, which will then transfer them to Ukraine and bear the full cost of the aid. The deal was finalized during a NATO summit last month.

The rules of the geopolitical game can shift rapidly, and it appears that Donald Trump is preparing to place Vladimir Putin under increased pressure. According to The Telegraph, Trump will be assisted in this effort by Finance Minister Scott Bessent, whom the publication described as Trump’s “secret weapon.”

Bessent, known for his past clashes with Elon Musk, is considered Trump’s chief adviser on economic matters. The Telegraph reports that Trump intends to use Bessent to target the Russian economy, shifting his approach to Putin from “soft” to “hard.” The British publication described Bessent as a “revolutionary and unconventional strategist” who could leave Putin “unprotected” by implementing aggressive economic tactics. Bessent is also credited with playing a key role in supporting Trump during the U.S. trade war with China. He is now expected to apply similar pressure to Russia.

What did al-Shara bring back from Aliyev?

The Interim President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed al-Shara, paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan on July 12. A guard of honor was arranged at Heydar Aliyev International Airport to welcome the high-ranking guest. Al-Shara was received by First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yaqub Ayyubov, Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rizayev, and other senior officials.

That same day, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with President al-Shara. Although al-Shara returned to Syria the same day, he brought back three significant outcomes that may reshape Syria’s current situation: the restoration of diplomatic ties broken during the Assad era, agreements on energy resources, and plans for cooperation in Syria’s post-war reconstruction.

During the talks, the two leaders addressed Syria’s pressing energy challenges. It was agreed that Azerbaijan would supply natural gas to Syria, with deliveries routed through Turkey. President Aliyev recalled that bilateral relations had stalled under the previous Syrian administration, which had adopted a hostile stance toward Azerbaijan. However, he emphasized that the establishment of a new government in Syria has opened up promising opportunities for collaboration.

In response, al-Shara expressed regret over the damage done by Syria’s previous government to its foreign relations, particularly with Azerbaijan. Both sides also highlighted that Azerbaijan’s experience in reconstruction—particularly in territories recently liberated from occupation—could be valuable in rebuilding Syria following years of conflict.