“Hook for further negotiations with putin”. Trump’s rhetoric changed after AFU’s successes and attacks on moscow – political analyst Ihor Chalenko
Donald Trump’s latest statements on the war in Ukraine do not indicate a change in his approaches or policy, but are only a reflection of russia’s position. Political analyst, head of the Center for Analysis and Strategies Ihor Chalenko said this in an interview with OstroV.
“The main part that ensured the shift in Trump’s understanding is still the results of Ukraine’s defense forces and the situation directly at the front. Also, numerous strikes on russian oil refining and what we saw before the UN General Assembly, for example, the operation with the attack on the russian capital involving about 45 Ukrainian drones”, - the expert noted.
In his opinion, the cumulative effect of Ukrainian actions indeed influenced Trump’s reaction, but it is only about a change in the tone of his statements.
“I personally adhere to the view that it is not a change in his approaches or vision of the situation, but specifically in the rhetoric. The change in Trump’s rhetoric is a reflection of the position of the russians”, - Chalenko emphasized.
He recalled that Trump’s associates had already voiced theses about alleged “concessions” from moscow – abandonment of plans to seize all of Ukraine and readiness to limit themselves to ultimatum demands on Donbas.
“In fact, Trump has now done the opposite – polarization. He showed that Ukraine can restore control over its internationally recognized territories and even go further. This is such a hook for further negotiations directly with putin and the russians”, - he explained.
The political analyst also drew attention to parallel contacts, in particular the meeting of US Senator Marco Rubio with russian foreign minister lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“Rubio voiced the demand that the russians agree to a ceasefire. But in fact, Trump has not changed anything in his understanding of the current war. His approach is as follows: the United States is involved at most as a commercial component that sells weapons, while the war and support for Ukraine’s defense are handled by European countries”, - Chalenko explained.
At the same time, according to him, Trump again made a temporary reference to a “month of expectations”.
“He will see whether putin takes any action or not. I personally link this to the upcoming meeting of Trump and putin in Malaysia at the ASEAN summit in October, where they will have the opportunity to personally discuss the russian-Ukrainian war”, - said the political analyst.
Chalenko stressed that even in the current conditions Trump clearly demonstrated: a war of attrition will not give russia any advantages.
“They definitely do not intend to abandon Ukraine. The US will be involved, yes, from the point of view of commerce, but still as a supplier of weapons”, - he summed up.
As reported earlier, Trump radically changed his attitude toward russian aggression: a return to Ukraine’s 1991 borders is possible.