There were a high-ranking US diplomat in Kiev, outlines similarities between the “12-day war in the Middle East” to the war of Russia in Ukraine and hopes that President Donald Trump will apply “the same definite position towards Russia as Iran” [którego obiekty nuklearne zostały zbombardowane przez USA]to put pressure on Moscow and get her to make lasting peace in Ukraine.
John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine during the rule of George W. Bush, said on Tuesday that “if President Trump draws conclusions from his decisive decisions about Iran, see that Iran cheated him, expressing his readiness to negotiate, at the same time not wanting to go to any serious paragraphs, exactly the same as Putin in Ukraine.”
Herbst, currently the senior director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council, spoke on Tuesday morning during the center panel dedicated to “the effects of US policy in the Middle East and the last NATO summit regarding the war of Russia against Ukraine.” He reminded that when Trump became president, he promised to “quickly” bring peace in Ukraine – insisting on the concessions of both sides and using the power of America to convince those who make it difficult to conclude a truce, to make the right decisions.
Nina Lashonok / PAP
Former United States Ambassador in Ukraine, John Herbst, during the discussion panel at the Black Sea Safety Forum in Odessa, Ukraine, May 30, 2025.
“It's just a matter of providing weapons and lifting sanctions”
While Kyiv agreed to the proposals presented by the Trump team from mid -March in Dżudda [w Arabii Saudyjskiej]Russia “rejected each of them, except for the suspension of weapons in the energy sector, which she broke within two hours of agreement,” said the former ambassador, adding that Trump should “deal with the blow” to the Kremlin for hindering the realization of his vision of permanent peace.
– President [Trump] He hit Iran. Some hope – I also – that he will apply the same logic and make the same decision to put pressure on Russia and get it to agree to peace in Ukraine – added Herbst.
The diplomat then emphasized that what happened in Iran was “a triumph of Trump's policy, which, if also used in Ukraine, could have the same effect, but without the participation of American soldiers and pilots in conflict.” – It is only a matter of providing weapons and lifting sanctions that will prevent Putin from winning in Ukraine – he said.
Herbst later drew attention to three key strategies of Ukraine's support: continuation of weapons supply for Kiev under the program [Joego] Bidena – with additional support in the form of weapons approved by Trump, the use of frozen Russian state assets worth $ 300 billion. [ponad 1 mld zł] for the benefit of Ukraine and the introduction of additional sanctions towards Russia under the law of Senator Lindsey Graham, which enjoys the support of both parties.
“Everyone who studies international relations knows that diplomacy does not exist in a vacuum,” Herbst emphasized, explaining that in order for negotiations to be successful, “you need to have the right context, and this means that to achieve your goals through diplomacy, you must be in a situation where the enemy cannot achieve its goals with military measures.”
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“Trump must hit with a hammer in the Kremlin”
– Bidena syndrome, intimidated Putin's nuclear threatshe never provided weapons in quantity and sufficient quality to ensure Ukraine an advantage on the battlefield that would allow you to achieve diplomatic success The former ambassador said.
As for Trump, Herbst said that although the White House outlined a reasonable goal, which is to achieve a lasting room, Trump did not achieve this goal in a reasonable way, because Putin clearly made him know that he did not care about peace in Ukraine, but about effective political control over Trump.
If the US president really wants to achieve his goal, which is a durable room, “he must hit with a hammer in the Kremlin” – emphasized Herbst: “You won't convince Putin with sweet words to give up his goals.” You must show him that opposing President Trump has very serious consequences – he added.
In the summary, the US Ambassador in Ukraine stated: – We did not see in this administration the same determination in the fight against the aggression of Russia as we saw in the event of Iran's aspirations to conquer or control the Middle East. But I still think there is a good chance that we will see it. We just haven't seen it yet.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
