Volker expects “decisive approach” in Trump’s Ukraine policy

He stated this in an interview with Radio Liberty.

According to Volker, after the inauguration, the U.S. president Donald Trump might call Russian leader Putin and “tell him to stop the war.”

He noted that it is possible to predict Trump’s actions “based on what he says.”

“It has been said that military support for Ukraine should continue, possibly in the form of loans rather than grants funded by taxpayers… It is also stated that a position of strength must be demonstrated,” Volker added.

When asked if the future U.S. president would pursue a quick or fair peace for Ukraine and its partners, Volker remarked: Trump “will insist as strongly as he can to ensure both.”

He also emphasized, “As I see it, everything is very transparent. Trump has stated that he wants to call Putin and tell him to end the war… We don’t yet know what this means regarding support for Ukraine. But I think we can be sure that the policy of the new administration will be somewhat more decisive.”

The diplomat also addressed what outcome in Ukraine Trump might consider proof of his strong leadership.

“Trump wants to be very careful not to appear as though he is losing to Putin. He must understand: if Putin retains the territory he seized by force and then imposes restrictions on Ukraine’s sovereignty—such as preventing it from joining NATO, for instance—the world will see this as a victory for Putin and a loss for Trump,” the former special representative emphasized.

• Earlier, it was reported that Special Representative for the Ukraine war resolution, retired General Keith Kellogg, has been tasked with ending the war within 100 days of Donald Trump’s inauguration.