Putin must realize that military victory is impossible to achieve peace in Ukraine

According to Western media, this was confirmed by Keith Kellogg, the U.S. President's Special Representative for Ukraine, during recent consultations with representatives of partner countries.

At the moment, the lack of a clear plan is evident, as well as the administration's conflicting views on the strategy for resolving the conflict. However, statements by President Zelenskyy and Putin's spokesman indicate that negotiations have begun at various levels.

According to Kellogg, the issue of ending the war has become a national priority for the United States, which involves the president and the entire national security team, including the highest officials of the administration. This is a positive signal for Ukraine, as Donald Trump does not need consultations and plans to pressure Kyiv to surrender to Moscow.

It is enough to ask Elon Musk to bring resolution, and he will probably resolve the conflict within a day. However, such a settlement would benefit the United States, not Ukraine, Europe, and the rest of the world. Nevertheless, there are positive trends that allow us to cautiously hope for the best.

The administration of the newly elected U.S. president is now realizing that the Kremlin is not a structure capable of constructive dialogue based on trust. Diplomatic methods are ineffective, and verbal agreements are not accepted.  The only way to influence the situation is through a show of force and systematic pressure from all of Ukraine's allies, ensuring support for its defense. 

Thus, to achieve peace, it is necessary to convince Putin that he has been defeated on the political and economic fronts, and that a military victory is impossible.

In an interview with the New York Post published two days ago, Keith Kellogg emphasizes the need for systematic pressure on the Kremlin - military, economic, political and diplomatic - to end the war and bring peace to Ukraine.  He draws an analogy to the actions of President Roosevelt in 1905, who succeeded in ending the war between Russia and Japan, and received the Nobel Peace Prize for it.  In contrast, Donald Trump's pursuit of the Nobel Prize seems inappropriate, as the prize is not awarded for surrendering to an aggressor.

However, this emphasizes the lengthy nature of the negotiation process, which, as world history shows, can last for years, without a guarantee of a cessation of hostilities.  Therefore, it is important to avoid inflated expectations of a quick end to the war.  The change of the U.S. president has not led to any fundamental changes for Ukraine, and our country's success in the war still depends primarily on our own efforts.

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About the author. Mykola Kniazhytskyi, journalist, Ukrainian MP

The editorial staff do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog or column authors.