Russian and Western experts express skepticism following US President Donald Trump’s claim of discussing an end to the Ukraine war with Vladimir Putin. In a recent interview, Trump stated Putin’s desire to “see people stop dying” and his own intention to “end this damn thing.” However, experts warn that Putin lacks incentive to negotiate, despite Trump’s attempts at both threats and flattery.
Nearly three years into Russia’s invasion, Kremlin forces are reportedly making steady battlefield progress, while Ukraine faces shortages of personnel and weaponry. This suggests Putin is closer than ever to achieving his goals in the war-torn nation.
While Russia suffers heavy casualties and economic strain from Western sanctions, experts point to Putin’s vast reserves of soldiers and Russia’s economic endurance. Furthermore, Putin’s intensified crackdown on dissent eliminates domestic pressure to end the conflict. Fyodor Lukyanov, head of Moscow’s Council for Foreign and Defence Policies, who recently hosted a forum with Putin, asserts, “In the West, the idea came from somewhere that it’s important to Putin to reach an agreement and end things. This is not the case.”
