Political expert assesses risks for Ukraine in case of Trump's presidency

"The very fact that Trump is being turned against Zelenskyy and Ukraine indicates that there are people in his circle who can form, albeit situationally, anti-Ukrainian attitudes," Fesenko noted.

He stated that if Trump returns to power, the risks for Ukraine will be present, but emphasized that they are not based on what Trump is currently saying about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or Ukraine itself.

The political expert pointed out that negotiations with Russia are inevitable, and if Trump becomes President, he will initiate them. Therefore, as he stressed, preparations must be made in advance, and tactics should be developed on how to conduct negotiations and advocate for Ukraine’s interests.

"This does not mean that Trump will surrender Ukraine to Russia. However, much will depend on who handles the negotiation issues and how competent and objective that person is. There are no apocalyptic risks, fatalism, or a sense of inevitability," Fesenko believes.

In his opinion, if unacceptable conditions are presented to Ukraine, a counter-strategy should be developed in cooperation with European partners on how to defend against the potential loss of American support.

Meanwhile, the expert noted that it is expected that Trump will push for concessions not only from Moscow but also from Kyiv if they do not agree to his ceasefire plan.

"Currently, the most likely scenario is that Republican congressmen and the Reagan wing of the party will persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine but in the form of lend-lease or credit. If problems arise and we refuse, Trump will start pressuring by cutting military and financial assistance," Fesenko concluded.

It is noteworthy that recently, Trump again referred to the President of Ukraine as "the greatest salesman in history" and promised to get America out of the war.

For more details on this and what Trump’s rhetoric means, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.