Putin will set up 'mines' for Ukraine at any stage of negotiations, political analyst says
Photo: Russian president Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin may set his own conditions for the ceasefire at every stage of the negotiations. He may try to tie the peace process to the elections in Ukraine, as political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told RBC-Ukraine.
“Putin will definitely set up 'mines' for us. And now it's already starting, he's already laying mines in the upcoming negotiations, and there will be even more of them. He can set these traps at every stage,” the expert explained.
One of them could be the link of the negotiations to the elections in Ukraine.
“This is done not to bring pro-Russian forces to power - it is impossible - but to have an excuse to disrupt the peace talks,” Fesenko emphasized.
He added that Putin may insist on extending the ceasefire every 30 days, each time putting forward new conditions.
“There can be a breakdown at any stage,” the political analyst added.
Fesenko emphasized that for Putin, the negotiations are a way of trading not only with Ukraine but also with US President Donald Trump.
“The current demands are all about bargaining with Trump and with us too, only through Trump. (Putisn - ed.) gets more concessions from Trump so that we do more, not Russia,” the expert summarized.
30-day truce
During the talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine accepted Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire on the front line. Later, the American delegation went to Russia with a similar proposal.
Before the US visit, Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said that Russia was not interested in a temporary truce with Ukraine. However, the final decision is up to Putin.
