Freezing front line in Ukraine would be big mistake for U.S. - American publicist

American journalist and author David Satter, who has written extensively on the collapse of the USSR and post-Soviet Russia, shared this view on Espreso TV.

“Putin has already told the Russian people that large parts of Ukraine supposedly belong to Russia, and that NATO is the main threat to them, claiming Russia is at war with NATO. So, if the U.S. simply freezes the front line, it would be a major mistake,” Satter said.

He added that Putin will demand that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO, which would be a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. This, he argued, would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future Russian aggression and invasion. While Russia might agree to some terms under such circumstances, Satter emphasized that Ukraine will not accept these compromises - and the U.S. should not pressure Ukraine into doing so.

"In the coming months, we'll witness a process where I hope the White House will come to realize the true nature of Russia's actions - that there is a specific group of people behind them, manipulating the population and sending hundreds of thousands to their deaths. In that context, I believe they will ultimately conclude that the best outcome, including for Russia, is a Ukrainian victory. 

Unfortunately, it has taken time for the Americans to reach this conclusion, especially those currently in power. The American mindset is that 'you have your interests, we have ours, let's divide it up and make a deal.' They don't seem to grasp that one side's interests - like Russia's goal to destroy Ukraine and its people - are not just impractical, they're unacceptable to Ukraine," Satter explained.

He went on to say that Ukraine is now entering an uncertain phase.

"I hope that eventually the U.S. will provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons to defend itself, but that may take time. During that period, there may be little that can be done to support the Ukrainian forces. Much will depend on the actions and understanding of people who lack experience, who don’t fully comprehend the situation in Ukraine, or have a deep understanding of the Russian Federation and its history," he said.

• Political expert Vadym Denysenko believes that Putin seeks to return to the G8 and have sanctions against Russia lifted.