On October 23, the Center for Public Analytics “Vezha” held an interview with political scientist Petro Oleschuk, who provided an expert explanation of the recent US sanctions against Russia and Donald Trump’s negotiation strategy.
After a meeting between Markaryuta and Trump, the former US president announced he was canceling meetings with Putin and introducing new sanctions against Russia. Experts consider this a strong pressure move on the Kremlin, but Trump’s main goal remains to reach an agreement to end the war quickly and with minimal effort, not a Ukrainian victory.
Russian officials have responded cautiously so far: Medvedev called Trump an enemy, but the Kremlin avoided direct criticism. Lavrov and his group remain focused on achieving Russia’s core objectives, while other voices within the Russian elite mention possible reset of relations with the West.
Trump hopes sanctions will push Russia toward ceasefire talks, and if not, he is prepared for further actions. He also announced an upcoming meeting with Xi Jinping, highlighting China’s important potential role in resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. Analysts suggest China is leveraging the conflict in its own interests vis-à-vis the West.
The European Union has approved its 19th sanctions package against Russia but continues to face challenges in unity and financial support for Ukraine. The main issue is unlocking Russian assets to fund continued support for Ukraine.
The interview concludes that Trump’s overarching strategy is to end the war as quickly as possible. Escalation and Russian responses may include new provocations and pressure not only on Ukraine but on Western countries as well.
