Larisa Kozovaya15:07, 24.02.25

Despite this, Vladimir Putin still sees the United States as an adversary, according to Pifer.

The haste and actions of the Donald Trump administration regarding negotiations to end the war in Ukraine indicate two possible outcomes: either an agreement on favorable terms for Russia, or a complete failure of the negotiations, former US Ambassador to Ukraine, now Brookings Institution analyst Steven Pifer said in an interview with PAP .

In his opinion, Trump is seeking a broader reset in relations with Moscow.

The publication says that three years have passed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and international attention is now focused not on the situation at the front, but on urgent negotiations to end the war. According to Pifer, it is not yet known what a potential deal will be, but there are numerous signs that it is unlikely to be fair – if it happens at all.

“I’m concerned that the administration is going too far too fast in its negotiations with the Russians, and that could undermine their efforts to negotiate an end to the war,” Pifer said.

He stressed that the Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, has repeatedly stated that it will not accept an agreement that the US and Russia conclude without Ukraine’s participation.

Pifer said it would be more logical to first agree on a negotiating strategy with Ukraine and European allies before engaging the Kremlin. Since Europe is likely to play a key role in implementing the agreement through peacekeeping or security missions, bringing it into the process early could provide additional leverage. Pifer said:

“The Trump administration has a lot of cards to play, but unfortunately the narrative here has been reversed.”

In his opinion, Russia perceives the speed and forced format of negotiations that Trump insists on as a “sign of weakness,” and this only strengthens its position and reduces the likelihood of any concessions from the Kremlin. As a result, the chances for a fair and lasting peace are significantly reduced.

Pifer also criticized the White House’s support for Russia’s demand that presidential elections be held in Ukraine immediately after a ceasefire is established. He said it was a trap set by the Kremlin that could give Russia additional opportunities to destabilize and divide Ukraine.

The diplomat also considers it illogical that European countries are effectively excluded from the negotiation process, although they should play a key role in ensuring the implementation of the agreement.

“Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of State George Shultz always said that if you want someone on the landing, they have to be on the takeoff. And I think that to the extent that the Europeans are excluded from the negotiations about what a real deal might look like, the likelihood that they will be willing to make serious commitments is diminished,” the expert explained.

He also warned that the US could agree with Russia on terms that neither Ukraine nor Europe would ultimately accept:

“This is definitely not what they teach in negotiations.”

According to Pifer, the actions of Trump and his entourage demonstrate a desire for a broader “reset” of relations with Russia, possibly with the aim of weakening its ties with China. However, the former ambassador notes that such an approach could cost Europe dearly, while the chances of a real breakdown in the Russian-Chinese partnership are minimal.

“Trump’s people have been talking about this since his first term. It’s an illusion, it’s not going to happen,” Pifer says.

He believes that, despite all the talk, Vladimir Putin continues to view the United States as an adversary.

“Basically, despite all this, Vladimir Putin still sees the US as an adversary. He is ready to negotiate with Trump, but I don’t think the Russians are approaching these negotiations with the idea of ​​finding mutually beneficial solutions. In addition, I think Putin sees relations with China very differently than with the US, partly because he is now very dependent on China,” the former ambassador concluded.

Kallas on US-Russia negotiations

As UNIAN reported earlier, the head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, accused the United States of spreading Russian narratives , saying that the administration of US President Donald Trump is succumbing to Russia’s whims in its harsh criticism of Ukraine.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Kallas stressed that any potential peace deal to end Russia’s war must include Ukraine and Europe, as concerns grow that both sides will be sidelined in the talks, Bloomberg reported.

(C)UNIAN 2025