Expert: It's premature to discuss direct talks between Trump and Putin
US President Donald Trump has only communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin through intermediaries, notably Chinese leader Xi Jinping, stated historian and diplomat Roman Bezsmertnyi in a commentary to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
According to the expert, the Kremlin has a good understanding of Trump’s psychological profile.
"Regarding contact, there has only been communication (between Trump and Putin – ed.) through intermediaries, one of them being Xi Jinping. So, talking about direct contact today is, first, premature, and second, what’s the point? Currently, there's no point. In my view, any steps, not direct contact, may begin only after Donald Trump meets with President Zelenskyy," Bezsmertnyi said.
He added that a meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy would outline the "approach to a starting position."
"This is not the beginning of negotiations or dialogue. It’s merely a step toward a starting position. This aligns with recent discussions about Keith Kellogg’s 100-day plan to advance this idea. That’s possible. But notice, whether it’s about Colombia or Greenland, these are wars fought on social media," the expert noted.
Bezsmertnyi also stated that Trump sees the issue of Ukraine no differently from that of Greenland, Colombia, or Panama.
"It’s the same game and war in social media. This is something we need to understand. You see, this is both Trump’s genius and his weakness. You can dislike it or adore it, but that’s who he is. And the Kremlin is playing Trump’s game. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, we traditionally either criticize him or love him endlessly. We need to move toward pragmatic steps and attitudes toward him and what he says," he explained.
The expert emphasized the necessity of a Trump-Zelenskyy meeting to ensure consistent communication between them.
Trump's Ukraine plan
Before the election, Donald Trump promised a plan for Ukraine, but it has not yet been published. Media reports suggest potential elements, including delaying Ukraine's NATO membership, deploying peacekeepers in a "buffer zone," and territorial concessions.
Recently, it was reported that Trump tasked special envoy Keith Kellogg with ending the war within 100 days. After his inauguration, Trump addressed Putin on Truth Social, urging a "deal" to end the war and threatening sanctions.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the US President stated his intention to meet with Putin to bring the war in Ukraine to an end.
