Portnikov: Trump’s call with Putin sets stage for two likely scenarios

He expressed this opinion during a broadcast on Espreso TV.

"Putin scored another diplomatic victory yesterday. But again, it’s not because he’s some great politician. Everyone says: ‘Oh, he must be a talented strategist.’ No. It’s just that Trump hands him these victories on a silver platter.

There are two possible scenarios moving forward. Trump’s scenario is to declare a ceasefire first and then negotiate peace. Trump constantly repeats: ‘I don’t want people dying. My priority is to stop the killing.’ The second scenario, Putin’s one, is to continue negotiations amid ongoing military action.

Well, you don’t have to be a top expert to see that Putin has scored a total victory over Trump. Negotiations are already taking place — and Trump is acting as if he hasn’t even noticed that they’ve begun amid active warfare. Let me remind you, Trump even advised the Ukrainian delegation to go to Istanbul, saying it was a chance for peace,” Portnikov said.

After the Russia-Ukraine negotiations ended without results, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that nothing could be resolved without him — and that only he could make a deal with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

“He called Putin and then said that Russia and Ukraine should negotiate among themselves without U.S. involvement. This isn’t just a sign of political schizophrenia — it’s the sincere, absolute intent of the current U.S. leader, an ultra-right politician, to play along with another ultra-right figure — Putin. We must keep in mind that Putin and Trump are ideologically very similar: imperialist, ultra-right, I would even say post-fascist in their thinking, with a complete and genuine contempt for democracy. 

When we see Putin and Trump talking, we’re witnessing a conversation between like-minded individuals — people who see the world through the same lens. The only difference is that Trump hasn’t yet been able to build the same kind of regime in the U.S. that Putin has in Russia,” Portnikov noted.

Read also: European leaders were first surprised, then shocked — diplomat Bezsmertnyi on Trump-Putin call

He also emphasized that Putin didn’t create his regime overnight. He came to power in a democratic country, with functioning democratic institutions, opposition parties, and free media.

“Over time, all of that was wiped out — as if the 1990s and Russia’s democratic achievements never existed. Why should we believe that another democratic country — even one with stronger institutions like the United States — couldn’t collapse right before our eyes and turn into yet another authoritarian monstrosity? If American society proves just as incapable of mounting serious resistance — as, in the end, Russian society did — we will face consequences. Yes, Russians protested, went out on Bolotnaya Square… but they didn’t succeed. As a result of that failure, we got this war. And if American society fails in its presidential election, we will suffer consequences as well.

Sure, Americans — and Trump’s voters too — will face problems. Just like Putin’s voters have problems. But the main consequences, as we can already see, will fall on us — not on them,” Portnikov concluded.

• On May 19, U.S. President Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Trump said that Russia and Ukraine would immediately begin negotiations on a ceasefire and end the war. The U.S. president also spoke with Zelenskyy.