““We have not yet seen the stage at which Putin reacts to Trump and Trump’s reaction after Putin does not want to end the war””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
“I think he is (Trump – ed.) would like to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible. He constantly talks about ending the war and slaughter… I don’t think Putin will go for it. But I think it will be a starting point,” Walker said.
According to the former high-ranking official, it is possible to understand what to expect from Trump in office “given what he says.”
“It was said that it is necessary to continue providing military support to Ukraine. Perhaps in the form of loans, and not grants at the expense of taxpayers’ money… They say that it is necessary to demonstrate a position of strength,” he draws attention to the words of Trump and his entourage.
Read also: “I don’t fully understand what it’s about.” Trump’s ex-representative for Ukraine is skeptical about negotiations with Moscow
When asked whether Trump is primarily interested in a quick or just peace, as defined by Kyiv and its partners, Volker noted that the future US president “will push as hard as he can to ensure both.” However, at the moment, they say, it is premature to guess how exactly the events will unfold.
“The focus is on turning this into a more sustainable peace. This is something we have not observed yet. We have not yet observed the stage at which Putin reacts to Trump, and Trump’s reaction after the fact that Putin does not want to end the war,” noted the former special representative of the US State Department for Ukraine.
Volker does not think that Kyiv should be worried about Trump’s possible contact with Putin.
“In my opinion, everything is happening very transparently. Trump has said he wants to call Putin and tell him to end the war… We don’t know yet what that means in terms of what Ukraine’s support will be. But, I think, we can have no doubt that politics (of the new administration – ed.) will be somewhat more decisive,” Volker notes.
When asked what outcome in Ukraine the US president-elect would consider to be evidence of his own strong leadership, the diplomat replied that “Trump wants to be very careful so that it doesn’t look like he is losing to Putin.”
Read also: After Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine will get an “additional chance” to speed up the achievement of peace – Sybig
“He must understand: if Putin is able to keep the territory he seized by force, and then imposes restrictions on Ukraine’s sovereignty, for example – the inability to join NATO, for example – then the world will perceive it as Putin’s victory and Trump’s loss,” he summarized. Walker.
President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20.
According to Trump’s future national security adviser, Mike Waltz, he is expected to speak with Putin in the coming days or weeks.
During the election campaign, Donald Trump stated that he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. However, at a press conference on January 7, he said he hoped to end hostilities within six months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi previously said that Trump could play a decisive role in ending the war with Russia and help stop Putin.
In an interview with the American podcaster Lex Friedman published on January 5, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that the first negotiations on the end of the war will be with the newly elected US President Donald Trump.