The negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are perceived as tactical maneuvers influenced by the need to appease U.S. President Donald Trump rather than genuine efforts for a decisive breakthrough.
Negotiations in Geneva between Russia and Ukraine, under American sponsorship, have sparked renewed optimism in Washington, yet the ground realities and Western divergences suggest the talks are more of a tactical maneuver than a pathway to a substantial resolution. The latest round did not yield major changes regarding territorial issues or security guarantees, exacerbating an atmosphere of political calculation where each side is keen on avoiding the blame for derailing the process which the Trump administration is banking on.
Former Ukrainian diplomat Volodymyr Shumakov, speaking on the program 'Beyond the News', expressed a prevailing sentiment in Kyiv that the talks have become 'negotiations for the sake of negotiations', as fighting continues and infrastructure targeting escalates in both nations. This revelation raises doubts about the seriousness of the political stakes involved, as ongoing hostilities overshadow the purported goals of the diplomatic conversations.
More importantly, Shumakov highlighted that both Moscow and Kyiv are attempting to avoid angering Trump; Russia to sidestep harsher sanctions, and Ukraine to maintain U.S. support. This intertwining of geopolitical strategy with domestic U.S. politics suggests that the negotiations may be more about managing relationships with the U.S. than achieving meaningful progress in resolving the ongoing conflict.
