“We have very little time.” The next eight weeks will be the most difficult in the history of Ukraine since 1991 – Ambassador Melnyk

This opinion was expressed by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Brazil, Andrii Melnyk, in an interview with Radio Svoboda.

Melnyk emphasized that the words of the newly elected US President Donald Trump about the readiness to end the Russian war against Ukraine within 24 hours must be taken seriously. According to Melnyk, the newly elected president of the United States is the only one who will be able to fundamentally change the situation.

At the same time “to share these laurels of a peacemaker”, be it China or Brazil, who also offered their “peace plan” for Ukraine, Trump will not. Therefore, Melnyk emphasizes, all efforts of Ukraine — diplomatic, political, social — should be focused on these “eight critical weeks” remaining before the inauguration of Donald Trump.

“I mean, we have very little time – in fact, the inauguration is on January 20, less than two months remain,” Melnyk emphasized, stressing that Ukrainian diplomacy should work primarily in Florida, where Trump spends most of his time.

According to the diplomat, the worst thing will be if there are decisions regarding Ukraine “imposed over our head”.

“When the day of the inauguration comes, I’m afraid, by then the decision will have been made and then it will be more difficult for us,” assured Andrii Melnyk.

The inauguration of the President of the United States is scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2025. The inauguration ceremony takes place at the US Capitol building in Washington, DC.

Trump’s position on ending the war in Ukraine

According to The Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump’s advisers put forward different versions of the plan to effectively freeze the front line in Ukraine. One of them provides for Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO for 20 years. The plan also includes freezing the front line and creating an 800-mile demilitarized zone (almost 1300 km). In addition, it provides for Russia to leave approximately 20% of the territory of Ukraine, which the aggressor country seized.

On November 11, the Associated Press reported that Trump plans to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table in the first days of his return to the White House.

On November 14, Trump said that his administration would “pay special attention” to the settlement of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“We will work hard with Russia and Ukraine. This war must end. Russia and Ukraine should stop hostilities,” he said.

On the same day, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Gennady Gatilov, said that the Russian Federation is ready for “any peace negotiations” regarding the war against Ukraine, if Trump initiates them.

Analyzing Trump’s possible actions, The Guardian suggested that he may negotiate with Ukraine on the terms of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, if the Russian Federation agrees to break its strategic partnership with China.