The negotiators agreed in Istanbul that each party would release 1,000 prisoners of war, but that's all. There is no major progress, unless Russia on the front. Trump wants to break the impasse, trying to realize the pre -election promise to end the war. It will not be easy. “If someone is not ready for peace and cooperation, it is Putin,” emphasizes Claudia Major from the renowned American Think Tank “German Marshall Fund”.
There was no shortage of threats from Russia to Kiev in Turkey. This is the first step. Now Putin wants to do another, but not everyone in the West is aware of this. – That's why I consider such a meeting of Trump and Putin very dangerous – says the expert.
The breakthrough is to bring a new peak. US President Donald Trump said in an interview with “Fox News” that he would soon like to meet Putin.
– I have very good relations with Putin. I think we will reach an agreement. We have to meet and I think we will probably plan it – he said. – Putin is tired of the whole situation. It doesn't look good, but he wants to look good.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pieskow signaled openness to Putin's meeting with Zelanski, but he also made it clear that it could still take it. – Such a meeting is possible as a result of the work of both parties and the conclusion of agreements. But only after reaching an agreement between the two parties – he noted.
Ukraine does not want to “fail Trump”
Despite the disappointing events, Kyiv remains optimistic.
– says security expert Claudia Major from the American Think Tank “German Marshall Fund”.
In an interview with Paul Ronzheimer, she explains what Ukraine and her partners want to achieve against Trump. – If someone is not ready for peace and cooperation, it is Putin – emphasizes the analyst.
“Open threat of Russia for the continuation of the war”
In fact, both sides were unable to agree even a 30-day arms suspension. So will the Russian aggressive war against Ukraine just last?
This is at least the Kremlin's position. During Friday's negotiations in Istanbul, the Russian delegation demanded to withdraw the Ukrainian troops from these parts of the Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporoski districts, which it failed to master – said Suspilne, citing a source familiar with negotiations. The Russians also threatened the occupation of the Kharkiv and Sumski Districts in the event of a refusal.
Earlier, such information appeared on the profile of the journalist “The Economist” by Oliver Carroll on the X. platform.
The journalist also quoted the head of the Russian delegation of Vladimir Miedinski: “We do not want war, but we are ready to fight for a year, two, three – how much it would not last. We fought with Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight? (…) Perhaps some of the sitting at this table will lose more of their loved ones. Russia is ready to fight forever.”
The major, in turn, emphasizes that the tone of Russian demands is as follows: “If you do not leave four regions, in the future you will lose not five, but eight regions.” Russia openly threatened the continuation of the war if Ukraine disagrees with Moscow's maximum demands. These demands remain unchanged: Kiev is mostly supposed to disarm his army and reduce its numbers, as well as permanently resign from joining NATO. Russian territories occupied by Russia will remain.
Putin can “push his postulates”
Donald Trump announced that he would take phone calls with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelnski and Russian leader Vladimir Putin regarding the end of the war. How he said that talks are planned for Monday. Its purpose is to achieve a weapon and “end of bloodshed” in one day. First, he is to talk to the President of Russia, then Ukraine, and finally make a joint merger of Washington and Kiev with NATO members.
– I consider such a meeting of Trump and Putin very dangerous – says the expert and warns about the “policy of great powers” in the 21st century
The major is afraid that Putin can “push his postulates” while talking to Trump. This may mean the end of sovereign Ukraine. – That's why the meeting of Putin and Trump is probably very promising from a Russian point of view – sums up the GMF analyst.
Claudia Major is a doctor of political sciences and an expert in the field of security policy. Until the beginning of 2025, she worked as a manager of a research group at the Science and Policy Foundation. Since March, he has been the vice president of German Marshall Fund, a reputable American Think Tank.
