Trump desperately wants to lift Russia sanctions but can’t — Portnikov explains why

Journalist Vitaliy Portnikov shared this opinion on Espreso TV.

"It seems to me that the last conversation between Trump and Putin took place only because the American president was expecting some sort of mediation from the Russian side between the U.S. and Iran, with which he is also unable to reach a real agreement. This conversation had nothing to do with Ukraine. Putin simply took the opportunity to express his anger, and since Ukraine was not of much interest to Trump, he said something about the Russian dictator not attacking Kyiv, or vice versa. Trump was only concerned about Iran. He also said something during his meeting with Merz, but it doesn't matter; only his actions are important," explained Portnikov.

The journalist stressed that Donald Trump is eager to restore economic cooperation with Russia, but Putin's desire to continue the war prevents him from doing so.

"If Putin is not willing to cease fire, Donald Trump finds himself in a deadlock. He cannot lift the sanctions against Russia, although he really wants to. He continues to believe in some economic deals with Russia, but Putin is not giving him such opportunities. Trump cannot be part of the negotiation process. We have already noticed that the U.S. has essentially withdrawn from the negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia. Today, the U.S. is doing everything possible to ensure that Kyiv and Moscow talk without them. Trump is constantly trying to shift the responsibility for what is happening. He is also trying to do everything possible to not be, in his worldview and in American media, an accomplice in Putin's crimes. And Trump simply has no roadmap for what to do next. I am not sure what will happen in the near future," he concluded.

• On Monday, June 2, the second round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul.
• Diplomat Volodymyr Puzyrko believes that Russia is refusing a 30-day ceasefire because Putin is cornered, and halting the war is not in his interest.
• Diplomat and former Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. and France, Oleh Shamshur, believes that Ukraine has no reason to continue participating in Russia’s diplomatic game and giving Putin a chance to win the second round of diplomatic efforts.