Both Putin and Trump clearly acted out of a kind of megalomania. Rather, Putin and Trump are primarily concerned with their own greatness. So far, the Iran war has also been perceived primarily as an energy price shock – with correspondingly gloomy repercussions for economic growth. Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesIn 2021, the EU imported about 45% of its gas and 27% of its oil from Russia. It is doubtful whether swapping Putin for Trump is a gain from a security perspective.

Source: The Guardian March 25, 2026 20:00 UTC