On October 31, at the VeZha Center for Civil Energy, Ukrainian experts and political scientists—Valeriy Klochok, Kostiantyn Matvienko, Andriy Horodnytskyi, and Anton Kuchekhidze—discussed the week’s major events, including the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, as well as the leak of a draft European peace plan for Ukraine.
Participants provided a thorough analysis of the Trump-Xi talks. Their assessment was skeptical: despite high expectations, the meeting did not lead to strategic agreements. Only temporary compromises were reached regarding rare earth resources, certain tariffs, and planned visits by both leaders. Tensions between China and the United States remain high, with major issues—such as Taiwan and the war in Ukraine—unresolved.
Experts emphasized the manipulative potential of diplomatic statements, noting that the absence of a joint communiqué points to a lack of genuine balance in bilateral relations.
Special attention was given to the leaked European peace plan for Ukraine, comprised of two stages and 12 points: ceasefire, monitoring mechanisms, partial lifting of sanctions, and the creation of a Peace Council chaired by Trump. The panel noted that the plan’s initial draft seems skewed in favor of Russia, failing to offer real mechanisms for securing a long-term peace or for holding aggressors accountable.
Most experts agreed that Ukraine and its allies should formulate their demands for the peace process, ensuring the inevitability of punishing aggression and preventing future revanchism. Economic and political stability were cited as key to Ukraine’s eventual success in both the international arena and forthcoming negotiations.
In conclusion, analysts stressed the importance of maintaining agency in relations with the West and overcoming both external and internal challenges to secure future victory and a just peace.
