In an interview, political analyst Vitaliy Portnikov commented on Donald Trump’s recent remarks following a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. Trump once again referred to his attempts to resolve the war with Vladimir Putin, claiming he had expected to quickly reach an agreement due to personal contacts. However, these efforts proved futile. According to Portnikov, Trump mistakenly believed he could influence Putin by making concessions on Crimea or lifting sanctions, but Russia’s president is focused on destroying Ukraine—something neither Trump nor Biden can deliver.
Portnikov emphasized that there are currently no negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and Russia, and speculation about a speedy peaceful settlement is unfounded. The frontline situation remains complicated, and the Russian side shows no willingness to compromise. The expert also noted that the US’s capacity to pressure Russia with sanctions is limited, as the Russian economy can adapt to the current conditions.
Regarding military support, Portnikov highlighted that effective military aid to Ukraine and joint weapons technology development with Western allies are crucial to changing the situation. He cautioned against groundless optimism or pessimism about war timelines, stressing the importance of a realistic assessment for society.
The discussion also covered how Russian energy sales affect the Russian economy, demographic challenges for Russia, and China’s position on the war. Portnikov argued that the real opportunity to end the conflict lies in depleting the Kremlin’s financial and human resources.
In summary, Portnikov called claims about upcoming agreements or trilateral summits baseless and asserted that neither Trump nor the West currently has a decisive lever to end the war—the key to peace remains in Putin’s hands.
