Putin is in tough spot with three likely ways to respond — MP Merezhko

Oleksandr Merezhko, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, stated this in the Verkhovna Rada, as reported by Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko.

Merezhko noted that the most important outcome of the negotiations between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia is that the U.S. will continue supplying weapons and exchanging intelligence with Ukraine.

“I consider this, without a doubt, a significant victory,” he said.

“Secondly, we see that President Trump is ready to invite President Zelenskyy to the White House. This means a substantial improvement in relations between the U.S. and the presidents Trump and Zelenskyy. This is exactly what I have always said in my interviews—that any misunderstandings can only be resolved through a direct, face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy. Now, there is hope,” the MP added.

In his opinion, Trump has a certain strategy and a certain plan, as the situation that has emerged due to the results of the negotiations in Jeddah, he is convinced, is very favorable for Ukraine from a political perspective.

“At the moment, we see that Trump, as before, is trying to show that he wants peace, that he has managed to involve the President of Ukraine in the peace process (as he sees it). Ukraine has once again demonstrated its will for a just and genuine peace. And Putin has found himself in quite a difficult situation. Now he has to respond in some way,” Merezhko explained.

The MP believes that the Kremlin leader has several options for a response.

“He can either refuse altogether. But politically, this is very disadvantageous for him. It would mean that the U.S. would have to react in some way by providing more military support to Ukraine and strengthening sanctions. The second possible course of action for Putin, which I believe is the most likely, is that he may agree to a ceasefire but set certain conditions. Politically, this is also an unpleasant situation for him. Finally, he could agree without any conditions, but we fully understand that he will not adhere to the truce. Or rather, he will observe the ceasefire only as long as it benefits him and can violate it at any moment,” Merezhko said.

He recalled that Ukraine already has such experience, as during the Minsk process, there were dozens of ceasefire agreements, and each time Putin violated them.

“Moreover, he acted in a very typical way, following the same pattern: he and his troops carried out provocations, then blamed Ukraine, and broke the ceasefire. He is an experienced provocateur. Therefore, to expect that Russia will adhere to a ceasefire, even if Putin agrees to it, is very naive,” the MP explained.

At the same time, in the current situation, he believes there is one possible psychological restraining factor—Trump.

“In my opinion, if Putin agrees to a ceasefire, then Trump, whether he wants it or not, becomes a kind of guarantor of the truce. That is, any actions by Putin to violate the ceasefire would be a personal insult to Trump and his efforts to achieve peace, as he envisions it. This is quite a new situation psychologically. And now we are waiting for the results of Trump’s team’s negotiations with the Russians. Trump said that such talks will take place either today or tomorrow. We will see what Putin’s reaction will be. I would like to emphasize that even if Putin agrees, this does not eliminate the issue of serious security guarantees and the need to contain the Kremlin leader. The answer to this question lies in Putin’s mindset—what he considers a sufficient deterrent to prevent him from violating the ceasefire,” Merezhko concluded.

U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia

On March 11, the Ukrainian and American delegations met in Jeddah, following which Kyiv agreed to a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, and the United States agreed to immediately resume intelligence sharing and security assistance.

The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said“the ball is now in Russia’s court” after Ukraine agreed to a proposed ceasefire.

White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said after talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia that President Donald Trump has decided to cancel the pause in military aid to Ukraine.

Trump expressed hope that Russia would agree to a one-month ceasefire in Ukraine.