Alaska Talks: Putin Will Push Trump for Peace on Russian Terms, Expert Warns
It is too early to draw conclusions about the real progress of peace talks in Ukraine. Putin is a very cunning politician who cannot be trusted. During the talks in Alaska, he will certainly push Trump towards peace on Russian terms, so we should not expect a quick and clear conclusion to the talks, according to political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko.
The Gaze writes about this, referring to a broadcast on the FREEDOM TV channel.
The expert noted that Russian propaganda may already be beginning to prepare Russian society for a gradual end to the war, which is logical. But propaganda should not be confused with real politics.
"At the time, on 24 February 2022, after the war had already begun, even though it was called a “special military operation” in Russia, it came as a shock to Russian society. It took very intense, massive propaganda efforts and the stirring up of anti-Ukrainian xenophobia to gradually convince the vast majority of Russians, the pro-Putin electorate, that this was normal and necessary. This, they said, was not a struggle or a war with Ukraine, but a struggle against Nazism," said the political scientist.
But still, part of Russian society did not accept this, he added.
‘Many people left at that time, there were attempts at protests, which were brutally suppressed. I am saying this to show that a sharp change of course does not happen instantly. A certain period of propaganda processing is necessary. Perhaps now the Kremlin is gradually beginning to do this,’ Fesenko said.
At the same time, the political scientist says, the militant part of Russian society not only does not want the war to end, but also wants it to intensify, wants war until ‘complete victory,’ war with the ‘damned’ West and with Europe.
"This is a minority, but a vocal, very visible, aggressive minority. And these people can create certain problems. Therefore, I think a gradual process of manipulation and preparation is beginning," Fesenko noted.
But it is too early to draw conclusions about the real development of the negotiations, the political scientist believes.
"Putin is a very cunning politician who cannot be trusted and who will push Trump towards peace on Russian terms. Therefore, I do not expect a quick and clear conclusion to the negotiations," said the speaker.
A scenario involving the start of the negotiation process is more likely. When and how it will end depends on the circumstances.
"Trump will be in a hurry. He wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize. So he needs to achieve a concrete result within a month — a month and a half at most. Even if this result is interim, for example, a ceasefire in the air. This is a scenario that some experts are considering. This will already be significant proof for him that he is gradually moving towards ending Russia's war against Ukraine. For him, this is already a matter of principle. I think he will gradually push the negotiations towards a ceasefire," Fesenko emphasised.
But Putin will not agree to this just like that, and besides, the aggressive part of Russian society, the elites, are categorically opposed to a ceasefire and demand unilateral concessions from Ukraine, which is, of course, unacceptable for Kyiv. Therefore, the political scientist is convinced that, in any case, there will be no easy and quick negotiations.
As The Gaze reported earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that Friday's summit between Presidents Trump and Putin in Alaska will be an important test that will show how serious Putin is about ending the war in Ukraine.