'Sign of weakness for U.S.': Manhattan University professor on potential Trump-Putin meeting

He expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"I believe that if Trump calls Putin and meets with him under such conditions, it will show the weakness of the U.S. President Joe Biden ended all contacts with Putin even before February 24, 2022. He ceased communication before it became clear that Putin would invade Ukraine. Moreover, Joe Biden repeatedly stated that communication would not resume until Russia changes its policies. Therefore, if the next U.S. president changes the approach to communication with Putin, it will certainly not demonstrate the strength of the U.S.," Aizenberg explained.

According to the professor, Donald Trump should first initiate an increase in aid to Ukraine to have additional leverage over the Russian dictator before speaking with him.

"If the U.S. president first initiated an increase in aid to Ukraine, followed by some talks about communicating with the Russian dictator, it would be understandable. If a Trump-Putin conversation takes place soon, I think it will only play into Russia's hands. Putin is not interested in making any concessions; he continues to demand Ukraine's capitulation," he added.

• President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Putin might attempt to manipulate Donald Trump, repeating the same military-political trick he used in 2019.
• On January 13, the press secretary of the Russian dictator Dmitry Peskov stated that there is "no substantive preparation" for a meeting between Putin and Trump, commenting on Serbia and Switzerland's proposals to host such an event.
• On January 15, Bloomberg reported that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, in any negotiations with the future US president Donald Trump, will demand that Kyiv sever its military ties with NATO and recognize Russia's control over almost 20% of Ukrainian territory, including annexed Crimea.