Kyiv should be calm as Trump aims to bring more than peace - American political scientist

Janusz Bugajski, an analyst, historian, and expert at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington, D.C., told Espreso.

He noted that those assisting Donald Trump in developing policy have a better understanding of how the war is unfolding. Technically, Kyiv should remain calm, as Trump does not intend to negotiate anything. Instead, he is striving to achieve not only peace but also a victory for himself and America as a whole.

Bugajski stated that, strategically, it is impossible for Ukraine to surrender its territories.

He stated that tactically, a situation could arise where Ukraine might say, "Alright, let's agree to a ceasefire. Let's accept these agreements." Some members of Trump's team have already suggested this as a way to maintain peace in Ukraine. Peacekeepers could be deployed to demonstrate that the Russian Federation is violating rules and escalating the war. One scenario involves convincing Trump that if he adheres to Russia's demands regarding territories, he will appear weak and like a loser. Additionally, he would face challenges with China, which might seize Taiwan, potentially leading to a war for America.

Therefore, the more success Ukraine achieves, the lower the chances of a war with China. This, according to the American political scientist, is the price of Trump's agreements with Russia.

He added that even without ceding territories or agreeing to a ceasefire, Trump could demonstrate that Russia is the aggressor and must be confronted, while portraying Ukraine in a positive light. He mentioned hearing from Trump’s associates that it is essential to ensure Putin’s army faces significant challenges due to the West’s and the United States’ support for Ukraine.

• Recently, it was reported that the team of the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump will insist on a temporary ceasefire in the event of possible negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.