Direct negotiations, as Putin suggests, are trap for Ukraine

The position of the Trump administration is clear: they bet on quick negotiations and an end to the fighting. However, it seems that Plan B, where Putin simply refuses to end the war, was not considered in Washington and has become a surprise for Trump and his team. Even though it was so obvious that Putin would drag out time, make unrealistic demands, manipulate, bemoan the "root causes of the conflict," and shift the blame onto Ukraine, but he wouldn't stop.

The only tool that can make the killer stop is real, not cosmetic sanctions against Russia, which would destroy its economy, and weapons for Ukraine. This is an axiom. However, the US, on the contrary, is preparing to resume trade with Moscow, and this is very dangerous.

Unfortunately, the previous US administration provided weapons in such limited amounts and with such gaps that it helped us survive but not stop the enemy. We lost time. And people. But given everything happening now, we should still thank Biden for the previous support, without which Ukraine would not have survived these three years.

Currently, we don’t know what decisions the current administration will make in the face of the de facto failure of peace negotiations. It's hard to believe in a quick ceasefire, especially given the missile attacks and nightly Shahed drones. Observing the indecision and weakness of the West, which again limits itself to raising fists in the air instead of using them to strike the arrogant Russian face.

During discussions about the mineral agreement, we asked Ukrainian negotiators how it would bring Ukraine closer to peace. Where are the security guarantees? It seems that this discussion needs to continue publicly. Because the responsibility for the agreement lies entirely with Zelenskyy, who initiated it.

We want to understand how 30 signed security agreements and beautiful photos with the coalition of the willing and the resolute bring us closer to peace. Their statements about decisive sanctions if the fire doesn't stop have remained just statements. The attacks continue, Putin fully exploits the impunity and weakness of the West. And with yesterday’s two-hour conversation with Trump, he bought time and broke his international isolation.

Direct negotiations, as Putin suggests, are a trap for Ukraine. The peace table must have guarantees for the implementation of the agreements, those with whom security agreements have been signed — the US, the EU, the UK. Otherwise, Russia will once again lie with impunity, drag out time, and kill. Kyiv must insist on the presence of partners and guarantors at the peace negotiations.

The only thing that can influence the next decisions of the Trump administration regarding Ukraine is the position of Congress and public opinion in the US. Please, who is working with it right now? The American track is monopolized by Bankova, resulting in the mineral agreement. That’s all.

In the Verkhovna Rada, a petition to the US Congress calling for continued military support has been sitting for months, but the servants categorically refuse to bring it to the floor. Wasting time instead of maximizing efforts with both Democrats and Republicans.

We can be as upset as we want with the world, which really has its own problems, elections, inflation, economy, and migration crises, but let’s honestly answer to ourselves — are we doing everything to strengthen Ukraine both internally and externally? Have we used all the opportunities for external communications?

Today, it’s time to work actively with the US Congress, both Republicans and Democrats. And with the EU, which must finally take more responsibility for European security.

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About the author: Iryna Herashchenko, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, European Solidarity faction

The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by blog authors.