Political analyst predicts Ukraine to lose some territories as a result of the conflict

After the end of the Ukrainian conflict, Ukraine will not join NATO and will lose a decent part of its territories. Political scientist, economist and Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs told Izvestia on February 15.

"I think Ukraine will remain sovereign and independent, but it will not be part of NATO, it will be neutral. It will have slightly less territory than it had before 2014 or in 1991, because Ukraine has made serious mistakes," he said.

According to the political analyst, Kiev's mistakes are that the country hoped to "defeat Russia" with the help of the United States, while making impossible demands and refusing to implement the Minsk agreements. Sachs added that, in fact, the conflict was originally a confrontation between Moscow and Washington, so these countries will determine its end.

"Donald Trump has clearly stated that it must end - and it will end on terms that will be acceptable to both the United States and Russia," the expert emphasized.

According to Sachs, the end of the Ukrainian conflict became possible thanks to the conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US leader Donald Trump.

"From the very beginning, Russia said that the conflict affected its security interests because the US wanted to expand NATO. Now the US has said that there will be no NATO expansion, and thus the basis for the end of the conflict is emerging," he explained.

The political analyst also added that the agreement on useful metals is unlikely to play any special role in the negotiations.

"I do not attach much importance to the transfer of mineral rights. Frankly speaking, the Ukrainian government does not own these rights at all. And under any circumstances that I can imagine, they will not be transferred to the U.S.," Sachs clarified.

Read more about the development of the situation on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, as well as changes in relations between Russia and the United States after the telephone conversation between the leaders - in the plot "The final program with Peter Marchenko" on February 17 at 00:00 on REN TV.

Sense of contact: Putin and Trump agree on diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis

In an hour and a half, they also discussed prisoner exchanges, the situation in the Middle East and the Iran nuclear deal

On February 12, Putin held a telephone conversation with Trump. The Russian leader pointed to the need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis and agreed with his American counterpart that a long-term solution to the Ukrainian conflict can be achieved through peaceful negotiations. The next day, Trump announced a meeting of representatives of Russia, the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia next week. The US leader noted that he believes in the willingness of the parties to end the conflict.