When US may resume aid to Ukraine: Expert opinion
Photo: The United States may resume aid to Ukraine (US Embassy)
The United States may resume aid to Ukraine after a peace agreement is signed. However, this is not about the minerals deal, stated Valerii Klochok, head of the Vezha Center for Public Analytics and chairman of the Nova Doroha Charity Fund, in a comment to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
Klochok reminded that US leader Donald Trump had previously said that he would force both sides to sit down for negotiations.
"He found the tools to pressure Russia. These are the sanctions imposed by Joseph Biden, but unfortunately, he imposed them at the end of his term. If he had imposed them in 2022, believe me, we would have a completely different situation now. Trump understands that this pressure on Putin is enough, and indeed Russia's economy is suffering greatly," he emphasized.
Klochok noted that, in military terms, Russia still has the potential to maintain its current level of offensive operations in Ukraine and continue the war. However, according to him, with such a stance, Russia will collapse by the end of the year, and that is exactly what it fears.
"For Trump, this tool of pressure on Putin is enough. It is also a tool of pressure on Ukraine, which Trump promised during the election campaign. So, he hasn’t changed in this regard," he remarked.
The head of the Center for Public Analytics also addressed the issue of Trump’s motives, specifically why he is not exerting pressure on Russia.
He noted that Trump is indeed putting pressure on Russia, and this has already been stated. According to him, the demand to Russia is clearly fixed.
"The demand is clearly fixed. Russia is ready for a frozen conflict but on its own terms. However, it is clear that Trump will not agree to these terms until negotiations take place in a three-party format: US-Ukraine-Russia. Europe wants to join in; there are some movements in this direction," he explained.
At the same time, Klochok emphasized that this is not about capitulation but something entirely different.
"But to be clear – this is not about capitulation, really. This is about something else, completely different. But Trump needs this now, and this is why the pressure is being used. And Ukraine is now put in a position where it will not be able to continue effectively resisting Russian aggression because the consequences will be catastrophic. To put it mildly. And this is why I say it’s not new for me. I clearly see what stands behind this," he added.
According to him, he discussed this matter with his colleagues at the center, and during the conversation, he pointed out that the supply of weapons to Ukraine will only resume after an agreement on a peace deal is reached.
"Not even a minerals deal. Because I still had hopes yesterday that President Zelenskyy's post would somehow soften Trump, but no," Klochok concluded.
It is worth recalling that the US suspended arms supply and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed this information.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented on reports about restrictions on intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine.
He emphasized that the UK, the US, Europe, and Ukraine must work together, without choosing between the US and Europe. He noted that the UK has always maintained close cooperation with its allies and does not intend to change this policy.
