“Against the background of preparation of “peace talks”, on the night of August 21, Ukraine suffered another massive blow to the Russian Federation – with the use of UAVs and missiles. And this demonstrates the invariability of Russia. Main motivation …”, – WRITE: www.unian.ua
Director of the New Geopolitics Research Network, Deputy Director of CDACR on international issues
Putin’s main motivation throughout the months of Donald Trump’s return to the White House is a delay in time. There is a game of disputes between Trump and Zelensky, a play on the promises that Trump can receive the Nobel Peace Prize, if he pressed on Ukraine and breaks it to recognize the Russian Crimea, gave Russia other territories and so on.
We see it all and clearly understand what Putin is doing during telephone conversations with Trump, when meeting them on Alaska, etc. Obviously, our Western partners and, above all, Trump think that Putin may have some other motives. For example, to make money, to invest some investments in the Arctic … So they press on Ukraine, they say, let’s already agree to something, we will give Donbas – what are the problems? – And then we will live in peace. But they do not understand the basic concepts of relations with Russia.
This leads to diplomatic failures as Trump received in Alaska – a lot of efforts for demonstrative humiliation. After all, the specific tactical task of Putin is to take time. No more, and no less.
This leads to unprecedented negotiations in Washington with the participation of not only President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky but also European leaders. I can not mention that at this level such brainstorms are made and some decisions in the peace process would be made.
But Putin, in turn, absolutely did not change his approach. At first he won a few weeks, promising to meet Trump. Then he promised Vitycoff during his visit to Moscow. Then he promised Trump already while meeting on Alaska …
Its main task is to make no new tariffs and sanctions to the Russian Federation so that it does not finally block its economy.
And at the same time he prefers to succeed at the front-his generals promise to occupy all Donbas in two to three months …
The last strikes of the Russians in Ukraine also show Putin’s unwillingness to meet Zelensky. When the Russian dictator was put in front of the fact that Zelensky is ready to meet anywhere and in any format-bilateral, trilateral-it turned out that Putin was not required such a continuation of negotiations. After all, if he agrees to the meeting, it will mean that he will have to agree to some compromises. If, however, consent to any issues (even a concern), then Putin will have to sign specific documents. And he does not want it.
At the same time, it is significant that in response to Trump’s submission of the need to meet Zelensky with Putin by the end of August, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Lavrov was completely openly stated that the likelihood of such a meeting was approaching zero. And in parallel, the Russian army strikes in the west of Ukraine, in civilian sites to show: “We do not want to meet.”
It may make Trump admit his mistake (although it will be very difficult for him). It cost Ukraine a lot of lives and destruction, although Ukraine and Europe were immediately said that “it is not necessary to think that Putin wants peace, let us weapon, press on Russia, break its economy, and then we will force Putin to peace.” Peace through force is it.
Trump has already agreed to sell weapons to Ukraine.
Now he has, logically, the next stage should begin: after the meeting he promised, he has to impose maximum sanctions on Russia. They must reach the Russian economy by the end of the year.
By the way, if Putin agrees to the meeting (not by the end of the summer, but a little later), it will mean that he has a really bad situation in the economy. And that Russian economists have finally convinced that it was necessary to reduce the revolutions: Russia will not achieve anything on the battlefield, and 2026 can become a catastrophe if nothing is done.
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