Sooner or later, Trump will realize Kremlin's true intentions – expert

This opinion was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by Volodymyr Yermolenko, a philosopher, doctor of political studies, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine (a cultural and human rights organization).

“For Russia, this is a war to restore the empire. And the reality will show Donald Trump that it will not end the way he imagined,” he said.

According to the philosopher, Trump came to power with slogans that the war was “started by Biden,” and he must end it at all costs. Now he has to explain to American voters that America should be withdrawn from the war because it is not in American interests. This is exactly the goal the American president is pursuing, in particular, by calling the Russian-Ukrainian war “pointless.”

“The problem is that the reality is different, and he wants to break this reality at the knee. It will, of course, take revenge for such a frivolous approach. But in the Trump administration, no one understands what we are talking about, what Russia is, what its wars are. For us, it is a war for survival, for independence. So many losses, so many victims – our struggle is filled with meaning,” Yermolenko explained.

Ukrainians should use Trump’s desire to end the war so that the future peace treaty does not mean occupation and loss of independence for Ukraine, the expert believes.

“For Trump, peace without Ukraine is also peace. Therefore, we need to argue to the West, to America, that peace is possible only if it is sustainable. Stable, guaranteed, clearly provided with security guarantees, peacekeepers, etc. Otherwise, it is appeasement,” Yermolenko noted.

According to the philosopher, there is a noticeable similarity between the actions of Trump and Nicolas Sarkozy (President of France in 2007-2012). Sarkozy also tried to achieve peace after Russia’s attack on Georgia in 2008 and was proud of his participation in the negotiations.

“He was very proud to say that he had achieved peace. I remember his expression well in August 2008. Where is Sarkozy now? Everyone understands that he actually opened the door for Russia’s further expansion with his policy of appeasement. And Trump may go down in history as the man who indulged the new Hitler. And he will not realize this immediately, but gradually – when he sees that Putin is waving him off (and this will happen sooner or later),” Yermolenko said.

As Ukrinform reported, on February 18, the American delegation and Russian representatives held talks in Saudi Arabia. The US side was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The Russian side was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, and the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Putin is afraid of direct talks with Ukraine, considering such actions a loss and weakness. Zelensky also emphasized on February 17 that Ukraine would not recognize any results of the talks in Saudi Arabia without Ukraine’s participation.

Zelensky also believes that the talks in Saudi Arabia between Russian and US representatives helped Putin break out of his years of isolation.