Trump and Putin's phone call sparks fears over Ukraine peace plan

"We want to see if we can bring that war to an end," said President Donald Trump, announcing his Tuesday conversation with Vladimir Putin. The leaders are expected to discuss concessions as part of the planned agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Key to the outcome of the talks will be territorial concessions from Kyiv and the determination of the status of four Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia.

Ukrainian diplomacy head Andrij Sybiha announced that Kyiv's authorities do not recognize Russia's annexation of territories. In an interview with RBC Ukraine, Sybiha said territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles and are not subject to change. He emphasized that Kyiv will not compromise on its aspirations to join the EU and NATO, nor will it agree to demilitarization.

"I tremble at the effects of Tuesday's conversation, considering how the first phone conversation between Trump and Putin went. It resulted in a dismal sequence called peace negotiations by the American president, which they are not," says retired Colonel Maciej Matysiak, former deputy head of the Military Counterintelligence Service and expert at Stratpoints Foundation.

He notes that from the beginning, the Russians, the perpetrators of the misfortune, have had the advantage and the better starting position, not the victim.

This phone conversation is yet another opportunity for Putin to manipulate Trump. And I don't expect anything good for Ukraine from it. If anything, the talk will bring the American president closer to fulfilling his expectation of peace in whatever form. He wants to fulfill his pre-election promise. It will only serve Trump. The conversation should be about the consequences for Russia and balancing the harm done to Ukraine. That is why I have dissonance. I don't expect anything good," the expert believes.

In his view, the current situation, to put it mildly, is uncomfortable for Ukraine.

The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States created new opportunities for Russia. Today, Putin is strengthening his position in every respect, whether in negotiation or military terms. Russia has faced no restrictions from the Trump administration, while Ukraine has. Kyiv experienced actions from Washington, like the withholding of arms supplies, intelligence data, or satellite images, which were very unfriendly. Nothing here aligns," the former deputy head of the Military Counterintelligence Service notes.

And, as he emphasizes, it is inconsistent that quasi-negotiations are conducted almost without Ukraine's involvement over the heads of the authorities in Kyiv.

Russia is benefiting from this. The criminal Russian regime is obtaining a guarantee for further actions. It is already clear today that, as Europe, we will have to deal with the consequences of these decisions. We also know that if the final agreements on ending the war are termed peace, it will be neither lasting nor permanent. And it will not stop Russia. – comments the interviewee.

I am willing to bet dollars against peanuts that when an act regarding the suspension or end of the war is signed, Europe will be left to handle this "wonder" on its own. Let me remind you that Trump pulled the same stunt in Afghanistan, leaving a "cuckoo's egg" for Joe Biden's administration. I don't have good feelings about the conversation with Putin," repeats Maciej Matysiak.

According to the former military figure, the glimmer of hope could later be that Trump will eventually stop interfering and Europe will assert its independence in action.

Therefore, it is crucial to maintain Ukraine as an independent, democratic state and build its political and military strength so that it never completely falls to the regime in Moscow," Matysiak concludes.