Source in Brussels: "Trump may bring us many challenges, but we have significant optimism regarding one issue – Ukraine."

U.S. President Donald Trump has noticeably altered his rhetoric regarding Russia and Putin in recent weeks, directly demanding the Russian dictator to "reach an agreement" to end the war.

If refused, Trump threatens to impose high taxes, tariffs, and sanctions, and additionally, to collapse oil prices, reports Politico.

This sharp turn has even bewildered Putin's main ally in the European Union – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had threatened since December to block the extension of sanctions against Russia but unexpectedly capitulated on Monday.

"I would be lying if I said we are not nervous about Trump's return to the White House," a diplomat from one of the European countries told Politico:

"We are preparing for him to create many problems for us, but one area where I dare to express cautious optimism is Ukraine and NATO."

Although Trump has often pretended to seek "friendship" with dictators, Republicans currently supporting Ukraine in his administration point out that in 2019, despite significant backlash regarding his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Trump refused to strike a nuclear deal with him.

He could act similarly in negotiations with Putin regarding Ukraine, said a new presidential administration official to Politico:

"He understands the stakes with Putin. If the deal is bad, he sees it, and he may walk away [from it again]."

Another advantage for Trump, according to his allies, is that this time he is not burdened by accusations of collusion with the Russians, as was the case during his first term.

"And you can say anything about his methods, but do you really think he wants to go down in history as 'the man who lost Ukraine?' "

"The President Trump I worked with will do everything to avoid being perceived as weak. Period," commented former Vice President Mike Pence. "If Putin thinks he can put the president in a position where President Trump looks like he has been outsmarted by Russia, he is in for another disappointment."

Putin and his spokesperson Peskov almost daily express that they are waiting for the American president to reach out to arrange a meeting.

Putin has repeatedly made it clear that he is only willing to negotiate peace on his terms, which include retaining Russia's occupied territories in Ukraine, a ban on its NATO membership, and a drastic reduction of the Ukrainian army.

Background. Recall that Putin stated that if Trump were president instead of Biden, the war would not have started. The Kremlin dwarf expressed a keen desire to meet with Trump.