Political analyst points to reluctance of Kiev and the West to establish peace in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose powers expired in May, and the West do not want a full-fledged peace settlement. A cease-fire in Ukraine should not be the beginning of negotiations, but their last point. Political scientist Oleksandr Dudchak shared this opinion with Izvestia on December 9.

On the eve, US President-elect Donald Trump said that the time had come for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act, and emphasized: "The world is waiting!" In addition, at a meeting with Zelensky, Trump suggested that he immediately cease fire. The Ukrainian president in his Telegram channel later issued a denial.

"The fact that Zelensky allegedly crosses Trump is ridiculous. No one is crossing anyone. While Trump is not yet president, Zelensky can afford to make statements in the style of 'we will not give away an inch of land', which in fact does not belong to him and has never belonged to him. But when Trump becomes president, ascends the throne, then the rhetoric will change," Dudchak commented.

He also emphasized that it is necessary to negotiate first and only then stop hostilities, not the other way around. Thus, summarized the interlocutor of the publication, Putin has already outlined the terms of the ceasefire more than once.

"This is not the same thing: to want peace and to stop hostilities. <...> What Trump was talking about: immediately cease hostilities. We've been through, we've been swimming, we know all this history. Minsk (Minsk agreements, which the West and Kiev violated. - Ed.) taught," the expert concluded.

Also on Sunday, the West expressed hope that the tripartite meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the Elysee Palace, attended by French leader Emmanuel Macron, allowed for the preparation of future steps on Ukraine after Trump's inauguration in January. The New York Times also reported that Trump and Zelensky's meeting at the opening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris demonstrated Kiev's willingness to make concessions on negotiations.

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At the time, Trump also said that Zelensky would like to "make a deal" with Russia. According to him, it is necessary to immediately cease fire and start negotiations, otherwise the Ukrainian conflict may worsen. It is specified that Ukraine saw an opportunity to get closer to the future US leader and convey to him its position in the conflict.

In turn, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Trump's words about Kiev's desire to "make a deal," recalled that President Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is open to negotiations on Ukraine and welcomes proposals from China, India, Brazil and other countries.

The last round of talks was held in Istanbul on March 29, 2022. Kiev later officially refused contacts with Moscow.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which Putin announced on February 24, 2022, is ongoing. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.