Trump begins pressure against Putin to ensure peace in Ukraine

Shortly after taking office on Monday (20), US President Donald Trump, who said in his speech that he would like to be remembered as a “peacemaker”, began intense diplomatic pressure against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin , seeking to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution for the conflict in Ukraine, which is about to complete three years of uninterrupted clashes.

On his second full day in office, on Wednesday (22), the Republican reiterated his commitment to restore peace in the Ukrainian territory and avoid more human losses by threatening new severe economic sanctions against the Russian regime.

“Make an agreement now and stop this ridiculous war!” Trump said in a post at Truth Social, noting that if there is no advances on peace negotiations, he could impose “high levels of taxes, tariffs and sanctions on anything that Russia sells to the United States ”and several other countries that support it directly or indirectly in this conflict.

For Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, professor at Yale University, Trump now has “the means to force Vladimir Putin to quickly end the war between Russia and Ukraine if he abandon the shy and inconsistent economic pressure from Biden Administration.” In an analysis published by the magazine Time, The teacher explained that, at this moment, the Republican has the “opportunity to suffocate the Russian economy to the point of collapse, if he chooses it.”

According to the agency Reutersthe Russian economy, which has resisted multiple sanctions since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, is now facing increasing internal pressures, aggravated by the scarcity of labor and high interest rates to contain inflation. Sources close to Kremlin have revealed to the agency that part of the Russian elite is already beginning to consider desirable a negotiated solution for conflict in the neighboring country, due to increasing economic distortions.

Former Russian Bank Vice President Oleg Vyugin, commented Reuters that Russia is already “economically interested in negotiating a diplomatic end for conflict” due to the risks of internal economic destabilization.

According to the agency sources, Kremlin has not yet received a concrete proposal from the United States for a ceasefire, but there is already a willingness to discuss options.

Trump, who during his campaign promised to resolve the war “in just 24 hours” after taking office, now bets on a more realistic time to negotiate a solution – as his special envoy explained to Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, in a recent interview: 100 days.

Last year, international news agencies stated that Kellogg’s plan to end the east European conflict was based on three main pillars: the negotiation of an immediate ceasefire, the temporary suspension of the Ukan adhesion process to attract to attract Russia at the negotiation table and the linking of US military aid available to Ukraine to seek a diplomatic solution. In addition, the plan provides for the use of Russian energy export rates to finance Ukraine’s reconstruction, while a possible flexibility of sanctions would be offered to Russia as an incentive to sign a peace agreement.

Kellogg did not make new comments after Trump’s inauguration about how he or the Republican president want to negotiate the end of the conflict.

On Thursday (23), the US President did not confirm the 100-day period cited by Kellogg, but highlighted his willingness to act quickly to end the conflict that has cost more than 1 million lives-according to the American newspaper Wall Street Journal -including the intention to meet “immediately with Putin.”

“From what I heard, I think Putin wants to see me. I will find myself as soon as I can. I mean, immediately. Every day we didn’t meet, men are dying on the battlefield, ”said Trump at the White House Oval Hall.

Trump also mentioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that he is willing to reach an agreement: “He’s ready to negotiate an agreement. He would like to stop. He’s someone who has lost many military personnel, just like Russia.”

During a speech sent to the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland, on Thursday, Trump also highlighted the role of oil prices in maintaining the conflict, asking the Saudi Arabia and the organization of oil exporting countries (OPEC) that help Reduce costs: “At this time, the price is high enough for war to continue. We need to lower the price of oil to end this war.” Iran have benefited economically from the sale of oil at high prices, which gives them the resources to support and support Putin’s conflict.

Already on Friday (24), dictator Putin said he is willing to meet with Trump to discuss “all matters of interest to Moscow and Washington,” including Ukraine.

“It would be good if we met, taking into account the current reality, and we calmly discussed all the topics that interest both the United States and Russia,” he said in an interview with Russian state television host Pavel Zarubin.

According to the leader of the Russian regime, his country may have “many points in agreement” with the new US government.

“In general, of course, we can have many points according to the current government, seeking solutions to current key issues. These are strategic and economic stability issues,” he said.

As for Ukraine, Putin said that if Trump had been reelected in 2020 without that victory had been “stolen from him,” possibly the war in Ukraine had not started.

“If he had been elected president, if he had not been stolen from victory in 2020, then perhaps the Ukraine crisis that arose in 2022 had not occurred,” he said.

Putin, who said he had relationships of “confidence” with the new US representative, insisted that he was open to the dialogue about Ukraine, but reiterated that Kiev has a decree forbidding him from starting such negotiations with Russia.

“I believe that those who pay money (to arm Ukraine) must be forced to do so (negotiating with Moscow),” he emphasized, adding that in his opinion Kiev “will have to do so.”

As for Trump’s threat to impose more sanctions on Russia if the country does not end the war, Putin replied that he does not believe the US president will make decisions that harm the US economy.

“I doubt (Trump) makes decisions that harm the American economy. He is not only a smart person, but also a pragmatic,” he said.

Experts such as Arseniy Yatsenyuk, former Ukrainian Prime Minister, consider American support to Ukraine in conflict and peace negotiation as “essential” for the return of global balance.

“In supporting Ukraine, Trump has the opportunity to avoid climbing for a third world war and reestablish US leadership at a time when international stability is threatened,” Yatsenyuk wrote in an article for the article for think tank Atlantic Council.

According to him, the invasion of Ukraine through Russia is not only a territorial conflict, but part of a Putin project to dismantle the global order that is still led by the Americans and that Putin

“Putin doesn’t just want to erase Ukraine’s independence; He wants to reverse the 1991 verdict (when the Soviet Union collapsed) and end the rules -based international system, ”warned Yatsenyuk.

According to the expert, Putin is determined to overcome Trump and will use the war in Ukraine to try to weaken the US position in the world.

“Although the United States is not at war with Russia, the Russians firmly believe they are at war with the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overcome Trump and sees the invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity to humiliate the United States in the global scenario, ”he wrote.

For the former prime, a defeat by Ukraine without negotiation would have profound impacts: authoritarian dictators in countries such as China, Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea would be encouraged to adopt even more aggressive outside policies.

“The future of international security depends on a firm defense of rules based on Russian aggression,” he emphasized.