Russia's actions clearly show that Moscow is not seriously approaching peace conversations, and this is because the Trump administration gives himself to sweep himself – he said Steven Horellformer US Navy intelligence officer. In this way he commented on talks about a truce in the Black Sea.
According to Horell, the Washington analytics of Think-Tanku Center for European Policy Analysis (flail), proof of the lack of a serious approach of Russia to conversations is the result of parallel negotiations of the USA-Russia and US-Ukraine in Riyadh on the truce in the Black Sea. As he points out, although from the initial message of the White House it appeared that both sides agreed to refrain from using force in the Black Sea, then Russia made a number of demands abolition of sanctions as conditions for consent to the implementation of the agreement.
– common sense interpretation of this agreement says that firstly be achieved cease-fire at sea and in blows against the energy sector, and only then The US can help Russia in export agricultural products and fertilizers. But Russia turned it upside down and the promise of future events did a preliminary condition, demanding the abolition of sanctions – analyzes Horell. Although in his opinion it obviously shows it Moscow's bad willUS President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “analyze” Russia's demands.
– fulfilling these demands before any action of Russia would of course be a recipe for failure – assessed the expert. – But no one who deals with the subject should be surprised by Moscow's attitude. This is classic play from Putin's textbook. The problem is that the goal of Trump's administration is not to reach a good agreement, but any of them, so that they can announce the fulfillment of these many promises of the end of the war. This is why The Russians sweep them And they set them like pawns on a chessboard – added Horell.
He reminded that in a similar way Russia immediately broke the provisions on suspension of strokes on energy infrastructure facilities and although in Riyadh she agreed to implement these provisions again, on Thursday She hit the energy facilities in Cherson.
According to Horell, the further development of events will depend on whether and when the United States will change their approachseeing Russia's reliability and uninhabited.
– I would hope that there will be a moment when they will finally stop giving wayand give way, and give way to Russia and start, instead use real emphasisstrengthen the sanction – said Steven Horell.
In his opinion, the state of conversations shows how long way There is a fight in Ukraine. He added that for this reason also a distant perspective is the realization of ideas European “belay forces” in Ukraine. Still, he assessed that the initiative itself is a positive idea.
– It gives Ukrainians a feeling that they can hold a courseto get A roomand at the same time a signal for the Kremlin saying Putin that even if the USA is not so strong, Europe will remain at Ukraine Horell said. – But it's true that very difficult At the moment, imagine how such a concept could be implemented because it would require Determining a lot of details. Meanwhile, we can not even determine the details of the truce in the Black Sea – he added.
He also shared his opinion Jim Townsendformer deputy head of the Pentagon for European affairs and NATO, currently an expert of the Think-Tank Center for New American Security (CNAS).
– The peak in Paris was important and positive because he showed that Europe is collectingassembles the “coalition of volunteers” and wants to be stronger military. But when it comes to the concept of European forces in Ukraine, it is still very much distant matter. We are still far from starting serious conversations on this subject – said Towsend.
– Russia clearly He doesn't take it seriously for these conversations. They They still want to fightthey simulate and stretch these conversations and rather nothing will change it. I think Trump's administration slowly it starts to realize it Townsnd said.