On March 30, the Public Energy Center "Vezha" hosted a discussion with Artur Kharetonov, President of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine, about the Middle East, China's role, and the impact of Donald Trump's actions on international politics.
Kharetonov noted that negotiations between the US and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, have strategic significance, linked to Trump's planned meeting with China's leader in May. According to Kharetonov, Trump's main goal is to push Iran toward concessions and strengthen the United States' position in the region, especially in energy.
The expert emphasized that American actions are limited by the lack of full support from the US public and Congress. Still, a short-term campaign of influence could alter the geopolitical dynamic and force China to reconsider its strategies in the Middle East and its relations with the Gulf countries.
The possibility was raised that the US may use achievements in the Middle East as leverage in talks with China, potentially affecting the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war. Scheduled for shortly after Trump's visit, Putin's trip to China signals a complex three-way diplomatic game in which the future of regional conflicts is at stake.
Experts conclude that prospects for ending the Russia-Ukraine war are currently uncertain, but US success in the Middle East could catalyze further decisions by major powers.
