U.S. President Donald Trump faces two options regarding the long-term peace terms proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin for Ukraine. This is reported by TSN and Kontakty.UA.
This perspective was shared by Ukrainian journalist and publicist Vitaliy Portnikov during a broadcast on "Praviy" TV channel.
Putin has indicated to Trump that long-term peace can only be achieved on Russian terms, which involve placing Ukraine firmly within Russia's sphere of influence.
"Putin essentially issued an ultimatum to Trump. There was a clear explanation that no plan from Trump, which involved a ceasefire between the parties and maintaining the status quo at the front line, possibly with the introduction of some peacekeeping contingent, could take place. Only Russian terms for long-term peace could be accepted. This long-term peace entails a straightforward concept – transferring Ukraine and other former Soviet republics into the unconditional sphere of influence of the Russian Federation, potentially resulting in the elimination of Ukrainian statehood and the establishment of Russian influence in Central Europe," – explained the journalist.
He noted that these conditions were presented by Putin to the previous U.S. administration under President Joseph Biden back in 2022.
Portnikov is convinced that the Russian president "has not stepped back an inch from these conditions." Thus, Trump has two possible courses of action.
"Trump has a rather straightforward choice – either to shamefully capitulate to Putin and accept these terms, or to continue applying pressure on Putin throughout his entire term and make this pressure the essence of his administration's European policy. How ready Donald Trump is for such a difficult choice, and whether he understands that he has come to be not a president of peace but a president of serious war – this is a huge question," – shared the publicist.
Moreover, The Times reports that Putin has unrealistic demands for a peace agreement that are unachievable even with Trump's involvement.