Can a war with NATO now save Putin from his own political demise?

Following the recent rather bizarre "stream of consciousness" (cf. Wikipedia) speech delivered by Trump to the assembled Heads of State at the UN, and which included a UN escalator and tele-propmpter, the Nobel Peace Prize, and bringing up an old grievance at not getting a contract to refurbish the UN complex in New York (Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy : USA Today: 23 September 2025), 

 

FULL Trump UN Speech: C-Span: 24 September 2025: YouTube

Trump and Zelensky afterwards held a press conference at which Trump pronounced that (cf video below):-

•  Question: Mr. president, do you think that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace? 

         Trump: Yes I do.

• Question: Mr president .... on president Putin, and do you still trust him?

         Trump: I'll let you know in about a month.

• Question: President Trump, your message to president Orban whose refusing and still buys Russian oil.

         Trump: Well, he's a friend of mine. I have not spoken to him but I have a feeling if I               did he might stop.

 

Sky News: 24 September 2025: YouTube

But as Steve Benen (left) points out,

"Part of the problem with Donald Trump’s humiliating failures in addressing Russia’s war in Ukraine is the fact that the president has struggled to settle on a strategy and stick to it.

…

• Trump said he’d resolve the conflict quickly, and then he reversed course. 
• He said the war was nearly over, and then he reversed course. 
• He said he was poised to impose new economic sanctions on Vladimir Putin’s regime, and then he reversed course. 
• He said a ceasefire would have to be secured before peace negotiations could begin in earnest, and then he reversed course." (MSNBC: 24 September 2025) (my emphasis)

Nicholas Vinocur, Clea Caulcutt and Gabriel Gavin (right) also pose the critical question, 

""Has Donald Trump suddenly converted to being a fervent Ukraine supporter?"

The question quickly dominated chatter Tuesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York after Trump caught officials off guard with his most pro-Ukraine statement to date — a bold assertion that Kyiv can not only win its war against Russia, but also take back every inch of territory it’s lost." (Politico: 24 September 2025) (my emphasis)

As Rob Crilly (left) suggests,

"Rather than pledging fresh support to Ukraine or loading up action on Russia, Mr Trump appears to be handing things over to Europe and Nato.

…

It sounds as if he may have had enough." (The Telegraph: 23 September 2025) (my emphasis)

And whilst, "Trump caught officials off guard with his most pro-Ukraine statement to date", and  "Trump has struggled to settle on a strategy and stick to it", Putin continues to :-

• try and intimidate the people of Ukraine into submission, is his deperate attempt to conceal that the four  walls of his bunker are relenlessly closing in upon him
• and to try and draw NATO countries into reacting to his dangerous strategy of 'goading' a NATO reaction to his "airspace incursion" of some NATO countries with his drones and fighter aircraft.

Putin is now desperately trying to 'fully rally the Russian people' behind his delusional and Quixotic attempts to re-create the old USSR as the Russian economy begins to implode, and long queues at petrol pumps becomes the new normal in Russia.

Putin needs war to survive the 'sharpening of the political knives' as a prelude to unseating him should he fail in his war with Ukraine, particularly amongst his 'siloviki' and sundry Russian oligarchs

As stated before (previous blog-entry: 22 September 2025 ),

"Like Russia, Putin is now also running on 'fumes'."

Even in his delusions about recreating the old USSR, Putin is now aware that only a war with NATO can save him from his own demise. 

UPDATE: 25 Septemner 2025: GMT: 17:14 

BBC News has just reported that,

"President Donald Trump is hosting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House for talks, with a private meeting under way

Turkey could help bring Zelensky and Putin to the negotiating table - Trump

The focus again shifts to the war in Ukraine when a reporter asks: how can Erdogan help bring Putin and Zelensky to the negotiating table?

Answering the question, Trump says the Turkish leader is "very respected by both of them" and could be a "big influence" if he wanted, although right now he is "very neutral". 

The best thing [President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia, says Trump." (BBC News: 25 September 2025) (my emphasis)

But the critical question is:-

"Will Turkey stop buying Russian oil?"   

And we have just heard from Ellen Mitchell (left) that,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin made new threats Wednesday to use nuclear weapons against the West, suggesting any nuclear power supporting a country that attacks Russia would be seen as participating in the aggression.

Addressing Russia’s Security Council, Putin said the country’s nuclear doctrine has been revised in light of an “emergence of new sources of military threats and risks for Russia and our allies.” " (The Hill: 25 September 2025: GMT 17:41) (my emphasis)

This new 'threat' of Putin underscores that he is now aware that only a war with NATO can save him from his own demise. 

Visibly turning into "a political puddle of madness", we should not underestimate that Putin will, indeed, press the nuclear button that will set off WW3.

                                         

 

 

(to be continued)