President Donald Trump's announcement regarding negotiations with the Russian Federation has given Russian dictator Vladimir Putin what he has long demanded: direct talks with the U.S. about Ukraine.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the Kremlin has long sought to exclude Ukraine and its European allies from such negotiations. Moscow has hinted that Washington is responsible for prolonging the war, and therefore only it can negotiate with the Russian Federation to bring it to an end.
"However, if we consider Putin's stated positions on Ukraine, the negotiations promised by Trump will be lengthy and protracted - the Russian Federation will agree to a ceasefire only if the U.S. halts its support for Ukraine and imposes restrictions on its ability to defend its territory," the publication noted.
According to WSJ, analysts suggest that Putin is prepared to engage in a long game to extract a hard deal from the U.S. on his terms. Military experts added that the Russian Federation could continue its war against Ukraine for at least another year to a year and a half with its existing manpower and weaponry.
"This is only an interim victory. Putin's ultimate victory is to ensure that Ukraine does not fall into the Western camp and is deprived of the ability to make a sovereign choice regarding its security measures," said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Eurasia Center in Berlin.
"The Trump administration made public concessions to Putin even before negotiations began," stated German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Meanwhile, there was jubilation in the Kremlin yesterday. "Putin has triumphed over everyone," proclaimed leading Russian propagandist Olga Skabeeva, while the popular tabloid "Komsomolskaya Pravda" reported that "Trump has signed a death sentence for Zelensky."
The publication noted that, in reality, for Putin, Trump's promise to hold negotiations is the first step toward ending the war on Russia's terms after three years of brutal fighting.
Additionally, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that the idea that Ukraine can reclaim a significant portion of territories seized by Russia is unrealistic, and the U.S. Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard, a well-known opponent of Ukraine, as the director of national intelligence.
This also represents a satisfaction for the Russian dictator, who has faced humiliating defeats on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The publication reminded that Putin has repeatedly sought to bypass Ukrainians by pursuing a major deal on Ukraine through direct negotiations with the U.S., whose financial and military aid has been a lifeline for Ukrainians since the war began.
"At the very least, Russia wants to make Ukraine a neutered state with a government friendly to Moscow, constantly vulnerable to Russian military aggression," the publication emphasized.
According to a former European intelligence officer, Russia will insist on a very tough deal with Trump precisely because Moscow has the resources to continue fighting for concessions from Trump and Ukraine.
Gabuev noted that Putin's ultimate goal in negotiations with the American side is not just to solidify his gains in Ukraine and prevent a resumption of hostilities after any ceasefire agreement, but also to ensure that Ukraine cannot resist Russia militarily in the future. "The aim will be not only control over territories but also providing Kyiv with superficial or zero security guarantees from the West. This, in the Kremlin's view, will lead to Ukraine's gradual collapse," he stated.
Moreover, as WSJ claims, Putin views direct negotiations with the U.S. as an opportunity to secure a broader geopolitical pact similar to the one agreed upon after World War II, which involved the reorganization of Eastern Europe into Soviet and Western spheres of influence.
U.S. and Russia Negotiations on Ukraine
Yesterday, European officials expressed concern regarding the idea of bilateral U.S.-Russia negotiations on Ukraine, which, according to Trump, may begin soon. Europeans demanded that the European Union and Kyiv be involved in any negotiations to end the war.