If I write a Russian language course in 2025, the first lesson will surely include a roller coaster phrase: Americanskiye Gorki.

Literally, this means the American Hills.

How suitable.

After all, with President Donald Trump now driving and Vladimir Putin pressing some buttons, U.S.-Russia relations have become the most recent one, highs, lows and twists and turns.

You never know where you are now.

At the best time, analyzing geopolitical trends is difficult enough. On the American hills of the 47th president of the United States, it’s even harder.

When Trump returned to the White House in January, his travel direction was obvious: he set out to repair relations with Russia.

There is a Trump/Putin phone call, senior US-Russian negotiations. Washington once voted with Moscow against a UN resolution that would make Russia a “aggressor” in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Whenever the Trump administration puts pressure on it, it is always in Kiev and never the Kremlin.

But about a week ago, the roller coaster started.

back Vladimir Putin President Trump, under the auspices of the United Nations, knows he is “angry” at Putin.

“I was disappointed in some way that some of the things I said on the last day or two have something to do with Zelensky,” Trump commented on March 30. “Because when (Putin) thinks Zelensky is untrustworthy, he should have a deal with him. Whether you like him or not.”

After playing golf with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, he reported to the Guardian: “I think the United States, I feel that it is also the president of the United States, and I lack patience with Russia.”

Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs of up to 50% on Russian oil exports if it was found that Russia delayed high heels on the Ukrainian peace agreement.

A group of U.S. Senators’ parties have gone a step further.

They have created a bill that would impose a 500% secondary tariff on countries that buy Russian oil, gas and other resources.

So far, Russian media has melted into the relationship between Moscow and Washington. Nezavisimaya Gazeta had a headline in the newspaper last month that pointed out that U.S. and Russian officials “started to speak the same language.”

Things have changed this week.

On Wednesday, the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper accused the Trump administration of “executive insanity…inexperience…immature.”

It criticized the government’s “bragging and arrogance” and “the desire to announce a ‘big breakthrough’ when the first steps were hardly taken”.

On the same day, Komsomolskaya Pravda declared: “Donald’s emotions were as frequent as the wind in the Ukrainian conversation.”

Maybe it’s a sign of a cold wind blowing between Moscow and Washington?

However, Russia was not on the list when Trump announced his extensive tariffs this week.

Instead, U.S. authorities organized a sanctions exemption for Kremlin officials: Putin’s special envoy for foreign investment, Kirill Dmitriev.

Dmitriev flew to Washington to hold talks with the Trump administration.

Maybe it’s the symbol of Russia and the United States, getting along with the business of getting along with…?

But on Friday, another warning from Washington to Moscow. This time it was at the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels.

“President Trump will not fall into the trap of endless negotiations about negotiations,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“We will soon know whether Russia is serious about peace in a few weeks, not months.”

He continued: “If not, then we will have to reassess our position and what we do.”

This follows criticism of Russia by NATO allies in the United States. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Putin “continues to confuse and continue to delay his feet.”

“He can accept the ceasefire now, he continues to bomb Ukraine…we see you, Vladimir Putin, we know what you are doing.”

Earlier on Friday, rumors were rumored that Trump and Putin were about to speak again on the phone. Then there were more rumors: The White House changed its mind.

The Kremlin said there is no plan for dialogue.

But there are reports that U.S. companies are planning to attend this year’s St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

OK Stop riding. I need to get off.

I draw the conclusion from all this.

Trying to follow every twist and turning on the US Russian roller coaster can make you feel dizzy and confused.

Sometimes it’s better to observe from a distance. It usually helps to determine the bigger picture.

That’s it: Donald Trump’s team has avoided criticism of Putin and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine for months.

Key White House officials like Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have repeatedly accepted and repeated the key points of the Kremlin conversation. Indeed, Washington said it is impatient with Russia and threatens tougher sanctions on Moscow. But this has not been achieved yet. not yet.

Will it?

Is the Trump administration ready to force Moscow to end the war? Will the Kremlin allow itself to do so?

This is a key issue as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.