Putin has no interest in negotiations, Trump must realize it fast — diplomat

Diplomat Volodymyr Yelchenko stated this on Espreso TV.

“Putin seems to be absolutely uninterested in any negotiations. The sooner Mr. Trump’s administration realizes this, the better it will be for us, for Europe, and for the whole world. Today, there are no signs indicating that Russia would agree even to conditions that, despite being unfavorable for Ukraine, could be temporarily accepted by the Ukrainian side. At the moment, there is no such readiness. Every day there are shellings, and the Russian military offensive in eastern Ukraine continues. Only the maximum armament of Ukraine—so that it can not just resist Russia but defeat it—as well as total economic and financial embargoes against Russia, can stop Putin’s aggression,” he stated.

To find a “golden mean,” negotiations are needed, first and foremost, between Ukraine and the United States—between those directly involved in potential future contacts with the Russian side.

“If Trump wants to be a mediator between these two countries, he must seek a ‘golden mean’ and compromises that both sides could accept to stop this war. Whether we like it or not, no one today denies that, unfortunately, Ukraine will not be able to regain all the occupied territories by military means—at least in the near future. Although I am absolutely against any concessions to Russia, if we are being realistic, this is a matter of years, and one way or another, we will have to make some concessions. Not in terms of principles or territories, but in certain conditions—perhaps postponing the final resolution of this aggression in our favor in order to stop the loss of Ukrainian lives,” Yelchenko added.

• U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is communicating with the Russian side as well as with Ukraine’s leadership regarding ending the war.