The administration of US President Donald Trump is not even showing intentions to restrain Ukraine from continuing strikes on military and strategic objects on the territory of Russia.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Volodymyr Putin / © TSN
Washington is sending signals to Russian President Volodymyr Putin that a further refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations to end the war in Ukraine could lead to catastrophic consequences for Russia.
This opinion was expressed in a comment to the publication “Focus” by Stanislav Zhelikhovsky, a political scientist and international relations expert.
According to him, the Kremlin has noticed that the United States may gradually shift its focus from the Middle East to the Russian-Ukrainian war and the search for ways to cease hostilities.
“There are very interesting signals coming from Washington right now. These signals are clearly not ones that can inspire hope in the Kremlin,” the expert noted.
Zhelikhovsky pointed out that the administration of US President Donald Trump, according to him, is not even showing intentions to restrain Ukraine from continuing strikes on military and strategic objects on the territory of Russia.
Why Russia Started Talking About Negotiations
According to Zhelikhovsky, the recent statements by the Russian side about their readiness for negotiations are primarily linked to the growing pressure from Ukraine on the Russian Federation.
“Ukraine has intensified its pressure, and Putin is trying to find an opportunity to somehow change the situation. He understands that if he does not go to negotiations as he should, the consequences will be catastrophic for Russia,” the political scientist emphasized.
According to him, the increasingly frequent strikes on Russia’s military and logistical infrastructure are forcing the Russian leadership to consider the prospects of a protracted war.
Crimea in Isolation, and Russia’s Losses Are Growing
The expert noted that occupied Crimea has effectively found itself in isolation due to regular Ukrainian strikes on logistical routes. At the same time, attacks are increasingly reaching the territory of Russia itself – from Moscow to remote regions.
According to Zhelikhovsky, the situation for the Kremlin is complicated by the rapid development of Ukrainian defense technologies, particularly the production of drones and missile weapons.
He also believes that the potential deployment of licensed production of modern air defense systems in Ukraine could significantly alter the balance of power and reduce the effectiveness of Russian massive attacks.
The Russian Economy Feels the Consequences of the War
According to the expert, the Kremlin realizes that the war is hitting the Russian economy harder and harder.
Zhelikhovsky drew attention to problems with fuel supply, losses in oil and gas infrastructure, and growing discontent among representatives of the Russian elite.
“Citizens and elites are starting to ask questions. Oligarchs are losing profits from destroyed oil depots, and the economy is running on military rails. Sooner or later, this will lead to Russia being unable to finance the war,” the expert is convinced.
Putin May Postpone Decisions Until the Elections
According to Zhelikhovsky, the Russian president is currently trying to buy time and may link his further steps to internal political processes.
“Putin understands that he can fight for a few more months. I do not rule out that he wants to conduct the election campaign in Russia in September. Now he cannot drastically change the situation, but after that – perhaps in the fall – he will still agree to negotiations,” he noted.
At the same time, the political scientist doubts that possible negotiations in the near future will yield real results. According to his assessment, after the completion of the electoral cycle, the Kremlin may face a choice between an imitation of dialogue and a new wave of mobilization.
However, even mobilization, Zhelikhovsky is convinced, is not capable of fundamentally changing the situation on the front, but can instead intensify internal tension within Russia itself and provoke new crisis processes.
Recall that Ukrainian political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko also drew attention to the fact that the Kremlin is complaining about the change in the US position regarding negotiations on the war in Ukraine. The Russian authorities believe that Washington no longer demands that Ukraine withdraw its troops from Donbas as a condition for dialogue.
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