The U.S. underestimates Russia’s intentions: the Ukrainian president explained the reason
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will not stop if he gains control of Donbas. His next attempt will be to seize the regional centers of Dnipro and Kharkiv.
This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Alistair Campbell’s podcast The Rest is Politics, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing The Guardian.
Also read: Putin believes in victory and is ready to fight for Donbas for another two years, – NYT
Zelensky commented on the trilateral negotiation process to end the war in Ukraine, noting that the team of U.S. President Donald Trump, in his opinion, failed to fully understand Russia’s demands and goals.
He suggested that this might have happened because Trump’s negotiators – Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner – spent significant time in contact with Putin and his entourage.
According to the president, U.S. representatives visited Moscow five times, while there were no visits to Kyiv.
Zelensky also noted that he understands the psychology of the Russian dictator and his actual military goals better than the White House does.
The President of Ukraine stated that Putin will not stop if he gains Donbas and will attempt to seize other regional centers – Dnipro and Kharkiv.
“We must acknowledge that partially Americans believe that Donbas means nothing to us,” Zelensky said.
“They do not want to admit that Putin will lie to them and that he can continue the occupation even after such steps. Americans are convinced they can trust Putin,” the president emphasized.
Donbas at the center of negotiations
Since the beginning of 2026, Ukraine has held several rounds of negotiations with Russia.
The main issue that remains unresolved is control over the unoccupied territories of Donbas.
Russia insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, Ukraine proposes to freeze positions along the front line, while the U.S. advocates for the creation of a free economic zone in these territories.
Recently, U.S. Vice President JD Vance commented on the progress of negotiations, stating that Ukraine and Russia are effectively “bargaining” over a few square kilometers of territory.
Meanwhile, The New York Times, citing military and Western intelligence, reports that Putin is confident he is winning on the front and is ready to fight for full control over the Donetsk region for another two years.
Source: rbc.ua +rel=”nofollow”
