Zelenskyy's Office: Trump-Putin negotiations only possible through pressure to follow US scenario
Photo: Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the Head of the President's Office (president.gov.ua)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is a person who operates under an irrational understanding of what is happening. He will insist on everything to avoid losing the war, states Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the President's Office, in a comment to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
According to Podolyak, newly elected US President Donald Trump wants to gain certain dividends from a meeting with Putin and from implementing a scenario that will be proposed.
"If he is ready to play along with Putin's scenario, then everyone will understand that this is Putin's scenario, and Trump would even play a secondary role. Honestly, I still doubt that this is physically possible," Podolyak said.
According to him, Putin believes that he has the right to kill, the right to redistribute influences, and the right to reshape international law.
"Honestly, I don't understand at all what anyone who will negotiate with him (Putin - ed.) expects to achieve. With the Russian Federation, even such intermediate negotiations. Because you have to play according to your own scenario. If you want to dominate, you must play according to your own scenario. And to play with Russia according to your scenario, you must make Russia realize that this is the only possible scenario – your scenario. So, for example, Trump's scenario is the only possible one for Russia. And Trump's scenario can only be offered to the Russian Federation through coercive tools," Podolyak stated.
Trump wants to end the war in Ukraine
US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his desire to quickly end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He even promised to do so within the first 24 hours of his presidency.
According to Reuters, Trump is considering three key scenarios for ending the war. The proposals came from Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, US Vice President J.D. Vance, and former Acting Director of National Intelligence, Richard Grenell. All options involve freezing the conflict along the current frontlines.
Trump also promised to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end the war.
