On July 29, the Center for Public Analytics "Vezha" hosted an in-depth commentary by political analyst, historian, and director of the Institute of World Policy, Yevhen Magda. The interview focused on reactions to Donald Trump's statements on the Russia-Ukraine negotiation process, the actions of the Kremlin, and domestic events in Ukraine.
Magda notes that Trump's statement about shortening the ultimatum period for Putin is a political and technological move. He sees Trump's actions as driven by a personal pursuit of victories and a desire for strategic gains. Commenting on Russia's response and its leaders, Magda highlights the specific communications style of the Kremlin: public statements by figures like Medvedev are aimed at lowering the official status of negotiations. In the West, however, Medvedev's statements are still taken seriously due to his former high office.
The conversation also addresses the prospects for negotiations. Magda emphasizes that real shifts in Trump’s position would require changes over time, while fluctuations in his rhetoric remain a consistent feature of the former US president’s actions. Regarding the mediation of Erdogan, Magda points to Turkey's pragmatic interests and stresses that Russia does not treat Ukraine as an equal party in negotiations.
The second part of the discussion concerns Ukraine’s domestic political situation. The impact of international pressure and street protests on the government’s stance toward anti-corruption institutions (NABU and SAPO) is analyzed. Magda notes that the main driver for the quick restoration of these institutions’ independence was pressure from Western partners, a decrease in funding, and demands from international donors.
Protest activity is discussed separately. Magda does not see any organized political background behind these actions and emphasizes the spontaneity and lack of coordination among protest participants. He also analyzes the risks to statehood in the event of a political crisis, which external actors could attempt to exploit for destabilization.
Toward the end of the discussion, Magda underscores that the current political turbulence is harmful to Ukraine amid war, and that resolving the crisis should be based on intra-government dialogue and adherence to democratic procedures.
