Kateryna Hirnyk09:23, 16.12.24
Kuleba also does not consider the idea of placing British and French peacekeepers on the front lines to be appropriate, stating that this money would be better spent on supplying weapons.
New US President Donald Trump will have a hard time negotiating peace in Ukraine. As former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told The Times , there are still “fundamental differences” between Russia and Ukraine that make peace impossible.
“In my opinion, there will be no quick negotiations,” he said.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded NATO membership as the price for peace. However, Kuleba believes that the Alliance will offer Ukraine to join it only in 10-20 years. At the same time, according to him, such an offer is unacceptable, since during this period Ukraine will be vulnerable to further Russian attacks.
“The real end of this war will be that only one of us will survive it. Either Ukraine or Putin,” he said.
In addition, Kuleba criticized the idea of deploying British and French peacekeepers on the front lines while Ukraine awaits NATO membership, stating that this money would be better spent on weapons supplies:
“The peacekeeping mission is estimated at 40,000 troops. Try stretching 40,000 soldiers along a 1,500-kilometer front line. That would be a very thin red line.”
At the same time, the former Foreign Minister does not believe that Trump will fulfill his threat to stop military aid to Ukraine. According to him, Trump will be forced to change his mind if Kyiv is again threatened by Russian troops.
“He has excellent instincts in assessing what is beneficial to him here and now – and that can change. If things go really badly for Ukraine on the battlefield, there is a risk of being accused of throwing Ukraine under the train. He will change his mind and provide assistance,” he said.
Kuleba also said that European politicians are too afraid of their voters to increase defense spending and accused them of ignoring intelligence about the real possibility of war with Russia. However, he said the UK, Germany and France would have no choice but to continue military aid.
“I don’t think Europe will betray Ukraine for a very simple reason – because they know that if Ukraine falls, war will come to their land. Therefore, whatever the check for supporting Ukraine is, the check for them to wage war themselves will be much higher,” he said.
Trump and the war in Ukraine
Trump has previously stated that ending the war in Ukraine is his top priority , more important than the situation in the Middle East.
Western media outlets, citing sources in the Trump team, write that the newly elected US president has not yet presented any specific peace plan to Kyiv , but recent meetings and conversations between Zelensky, Trump, and their advisors “have been constructive.”
At the same time, according to Foreign Affairs, Putin’s victory will cost the US seven times more than supporting Ukraine.
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