Photo: Reuters
Today, on 30 March 2025, Ukrainians are happy and relieved to hear the latest statements by US President Donald Trump, published by NBC News and Bloomberg. We, Ukrainians, have long dubbed Vladimir Putin “Pinocchio” – a wooden boy living in a world of his own illusions and manipulations. And now it seems that Trump is also beginning to see the true nature of the Kremlin leader. This news is a real delight for us in Ukraine!
Trump is ‘furious’ and ready to act
In a telephone interview with NBC, Trump did not hold back his emotions: “I was furious about it. If there is no agreement to stop the bloodshed and I decide that Russia is to blame – and that is not a fact yet – I will impose secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil from Russia.” For Ukrainians, these words sound like a long-awaited signal that the world leader is ready to move from talk to action.
Trump threatens to impose duties of 25% to 50% not only on Russia but also on countries that buy oil from it. “If you buy oil from Russia, forget about doing business in the United States,” he added emphatically. This economic blow could be a real shock to the Kremlin, and we in Ukraine are already imagining Putin the Pinocchio losing his gold coins.
The US president also announced a personal conversation with Putin this week to see if he is ready for real peace or if he will continue to make up fairy tales. For us, this means one thing: the time for manipulation is coming to an end.
“Pinocchio and its tricks
In Ukraine, we have long called Putin “Pinocchio” for his wooden logic and false promises. The Kremlin has been demanding the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and other institutions, trying to blackmail the world. But Trump doesn’t seem to be falling for these tricks anymore. His threat to hit Russia’s oil revenues is a blow to the heart of Putin’s war machine. And we can’t wait to see it become a reality.
The Black Sea and Venezuela: a broader offensive
The naval truce in the Black Sea, agreed after talks in Saudi Arabia, was a breath of fresh air for Ukraine. But Trump went further: he announced secondary tariffs on countries trading with Venezuela, calling the Maduro regime a source of “crime”. This shows that the US is ready to fight autocrats around the world – and for us, this is another reason for optimism.
Why are we happy in Ukraine?
This news is not just headlines for us. It is a sign that Trump, who used to evoke mixed emotions in us, is now ready to act tough. We are happy because we see that the world is beginning to understand that it is not possible to negotiate with Putin the Pinocchio with words alone – pressure is needed. If the duties on Russian oil start working, it could change the course of the war, because without oil money, it will be difficult for the Kremlin to continue its aggression.
Today we, Ukrainians, are incredibly happy. Trump may not have called Putin “Pinocchio” out loud, but his actions speak for themselves. It seems that the world leader has realised what we have known for a long time: the wooden boy from the Kremlin is not trustworthy. And we are ready to applaud every step that brings us closer to victory.
Author : Aleksandr Potetiuiev
