Recently, Russian propaganda channels have discussed alleged threats to Vladimir Putin’s safety during a possible visit to Hungary, suggesting British intelligence involvement. However, Putin currently has no such plans.
Debate continues around a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin. Trump insists the war must stop at the front lines, while the Kremlin demands Ukraine hand over control of several territories. Political analyst Vitaliy Portnikov notes that for Putin, talking to Trump is a strategy aimed at delaying decisive U.S. actions against Russia. According to Portnikov, Putin wants to maintain the status quo and restrict military aid to Ukraine from the U.S. and Europe.
The expert emphasizes that U.S. military assistance to Ukraine has significantly decreased, benefitting Russia as it increases its arms production. Portnikov compares this diplomatic maneuvering to prolonging an inevitable divorce: Putin seeks to delay radical change by negotiating with Trump.
Scenarios for supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons are widely discussed as a tool of pressure on Russia, but Portnikov cautions that such deliveries alone will not quickly end the war. Attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure might hamper its military and economic capabilities but are unlikely to shift the Russian population’s support for the conflict.
The discussion also touched on Ukrainian attitudes toward President Zelensky and his future political prospects, as well as the lack of credible “classified information” among political experts regarding the actual outlook for ending the war.
The analyst’s final assessment is that Putin seeks to preserve the status quo. Any pause or change in the conflict’s course will depend on the readiness of the parties and broader international circumstances.
