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Putin and Trump don’t have the cards

The wars waged by Russia and the US in Ukraine and Iran are case studies in geopolitical self-harm

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    • Ukraine has turned its battlefront into a charnel house with Russia’s casualty rate at 35,000 a month.
    • Ukraine has turned its battlefront into a charnel house with Russia’s casualty rate at 35,000 a month. PHOTO: REUTERS

    Edward Luce

    Published Wed, May 27, 2026 · 05:00 PM

    WHEN Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Donald Trump, who ended his first US presidency the previous year, hailed the move as “genius”.

    In practice, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war was our age’s costliest great power error until Trump, in his second presidency, launched Operation Epic Fury three months ago.

    Both men gambled on a weak adversary and assumed victory within days. Each is burdening their countries with costs that will persist many years after they have lost power.

    UkraineIranDonald TrumpVladimir PutinChina

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