Trump vs Zelenskyy. Impact on war of events related to negotiations
On the latest developments related to the negotiations that the United States is currently conducting with the Russian Federation regarding the end of the war in Ukraine.
Another statement was made by President Donald Trump. 
So Trump has clearly stated that Zelenskyy will not be at the meetings. That is, the US president does not invite a representative of Ukraine to discuss the conclusion of a peace agreement in Ukraine. Nor is Trump inviting representatives of the European Union. And apparently, judging by this statement, he is going to negotiate with Putin exclusively face-to-face. Where will this take place?
Le Plan: Trump is going to visit Putin in Moscow on 9 May and talk about ending the war in Ukraine. (Later, Trump said he was not going to go to Russia on 9 May - ed.)
What does this indicate? First of all, of course, the exclusion of a Ukrainian representative is a very, very bad signal that is now being actively exploited by Russian propaganda. Regarding the war, I want to say that Russian bots and all their information troops are going crazy. The entire internet is flooded with Russian propaganda, which eagerly repeats and quotes American statements while adding its own, which boil down to the idea that the war is essentially over, there will be no more resistance, and Putin and Trump will agree to divide Ukraine, with everything happening on Russian terms. Naturally, this surge in Russian propaganda should not distract us from the main issue. The enemy is doing everything possible to demoralize the Ukrainian defense forces. Right now, very heavy fighting is taking place on the frontline. Everyone in the army is undoubtedly interested in and concerned about possible peace agreements. However, all that Trump is saying about ongoing negotiations is not the start of actual agreements. We still don't see any plan for negotiations on Ukraine or what Trump envisions in a peace agreement.
Trump is like a stockbroker trying to close a number of important deals at the last minute; he tries to achieve results very quickly. To state that this result exists. Thus, he rejects anything that could slow him down, including anyone he might need to compromise with or align positions with, and he wants to keep his hands completely free to make any deals within the framework he envisions. And that framework is clearly quite broad. If you lack planning and coordination with your allies, it means that the agreement will most likely be conceptual. There will be no details on how this security plan will be guaranteed or when it will begin. There are no actual agreements in place. So, while the Russians are now speculating, Putin is speculating about peace, and Trump has essentially given him a free hand. Putin can start negotiations without any set date for when they will end. And judging by the fact that no meetings are planned in the near future, we understand that the war will continue. And it will last for more than just a few months. Moreover, there are no guarantees that the war will end any time soon. Because we don't know the terms of any agreement between Trump and Putin. We don't know what exactly Putin will agree to. Let's not forget that Russia, through a legislative decision, has incorporated four Ukrainian regions plus the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation. That's a total of five regions, and now they will try to legitimize these regions as part of the Russian Federation, even though Russia does not fully control these areas. And they cannot take full control. The Russian offensive has significantly stalled. The enemy is advancing, but only in very limited areas of the front, and with very heavy losses. Near Pokrovsk, the enemy has been stopped, and there has been no movement in that direction for a month. In some areas, Ukrainian soldiers have even recaptured positions, regained territory, and advanced.
So, what do we understand about the current situation? Trump wants to secure a quick deal. The deal is not detailed, and the security guarantees are not detailed. He will try to reach a conceptual agreement with Putin for a temporary halt to hostilities. And, obviously, he aims to present this agreement to the whole world. After that, he will pressure Ukraine and the European allies to detail and approve the agreement. We don't know what the full package of agreements might look like. All of this is still ahead, but the key issue is time. There are no guarantees that a meeting will happen soon. There could be one round, a second, a third—we just don't know. The timing of the cessation of hostilities, the format of the ceasefire, the demarcation line during the agreement—all of this remains entirely unclear. So, while we can closely monitor political developments, we must understand that there are no guarantees that the war will end quickly. The situation on the frontline indicates that the enemy is preparing certain offensive actions to improve its position and seize more Ukrainian territory during these peace talks. Currently, we know that Russian soldiers themselves are reporting on social media about the movement of the Russian 150th Motorized Rifle Division. It is regrouping from the southern direction of Donbas to the Toretsk direction. The enemy will obviously attempt to capture as much territory as possible in Donbas and continue its offensive operations. However, the offensive will span the entire frontline because Russian strategy and tactics involve maintaining pressure along the entire line of contact to prevent Ukrainian forces from maneuvering, resting, or reorganizing, keeping our defense forces constantly under strain. Moreover, we are seeing signs of enemy buildup in the Kostiantynivka direction, meaning that the enemy will likely try to completely capture Toretsk, as they haven’t succeeded yet, and apply pressure on Pokrovsk from the north. They will also attempt to take Chasiv Yar fully and then launch attacks on Kostiantynivka from two directions. It is clear that active fighting in Donbas will continue, and there is no sign of a reduction in either the activity or intensity of hostilities.
The pauses in fighting, as we can see, are now solely due to the fact that our soldiers are destroying so many Russian assault troops that, for a time, the Russians simply run out of infantry to send forward. However, we see that the enemy continues to conscript as many people as possible and is gradually replenishing its strike groups, although not as quickly as they would like. For example, we should note the situation in Toretsk, where three Russian brigades—the First, Ninth, and One Hundred and Thirty-Second—have been attacking the city for several uninterrupted months. And now, all three brigades have essentially lost their combat capability, despite constant reinforcements, and can no longer sustain offensive operations. Therefore, the enemy is reinforcing the Toretsk direction with the 150th Division.
Answers to questions
Don't you think that Trump has realized that it's impossible to negotiate a ceasefire with Putin so easily, and is he now putting pressure on Ukraine to make us give in?
I don't really see Trump as someone who just wants to force anyone to knuckle under for the sake of it. What I do see is Trump deliberately employing very active pro-Russian rhetoric to shower Putin with all the compliments he can think of. After that, Trump is attempting to cut all his allies—and especially Ukraine—out of the negotiation process to have his hands free. This is why he is aiming to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine because this discrediting campaign against Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Trump is leading is designed to make sure no one speaks for Ukraine. In my view, this situation is very dangerous for Ukraine because the word "peace," as Putin understands it, and perhaps as Trump envisions it in Moscow, is not necessarily the kind of peace that guarantees security for Ukraine. We don't know what territories will be involved, which demarcation lines this peace will follow, or what security guarantees Ukraine will have if it agrees to these terms. So for now, we can only speculate.
Trump has now created a situation where he is alone in this negotiation process. And, judging by the reaction of the Ukrainian leadership and the EU, there is no strong active opposition to Trump's statements. President Zelenskyy, after all of Trump's numerous attacks, only mentioned that, in fact, he had not entered into any conflict or dispute with Trump, but simply clarified that his approval rating was not 4%, but 57%. Thus, at the moment, there is no direct conflict or organized resistance from Ukraine or the European Union. If there is no reaction even before the actual negotiations between Putin and Trump, which Trump has already essentially announced, then, of course, this will imply tacit consent for Trump to receive a mandate to negotiate on his own behalf. And then we will see what he brings and when he will act, which is still unknown. However, it is clear that the defense forces face very fierce battles ahead, and the enemy will attempt, under the guise of peace talks, to demonstrate by force that they can seize enough territory, making further negotiations unnecessary. Of course, we understand that in Donbas, the Pokrovsk, Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration, and the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration are of key importance. These are critical operational and strategic hubs that enable control and defense of the western part of Donbas.
Should the agreement have been signed in Istanbul in 2022? Does Zelenskyy need personal security guarantees now?
I hardly think so, I have any reason to doubt President Zelenskyy's decision to reject the Istanbul agreements. I would like to remind you that it is simply impossible to hold peace talks at gunpoint, and I have no doubt that there were valid reasons for not signing the agreements. Therefore, in 2022, I supported the actions of the Ukrainian leadership in rejecting negotiations and agreements imposed by Putin during his attempt at a military blitzkrieg. I supported this decision then, and I still do. Does Zelenskyy need personal security guarantees now? What security guarantees? He is the president of Ukraine, protected by Ukrainian law and the Ukrainian people.
The war will continue as long as we have weapons, but where do we get them?
The fact is, there are currently no restrictions from the United States on the supply of weapons. Our Starlinks are functioning, American intelligence is assisting us, and American instructors are helping us. The U.S. has not stopped supplying weapons under the packages agreed upon by President Biden. The sanctions imposed by President Biden against the Russian Federation, which are quite severe, are in effect. Therefore, it’s incorrect to say that anything has been canceled, and at the moment, there is no confirmed information about any restrictions in U.S.-Ukraine relations in any sphere.
As for where to get the weapons, I want to point out that Ukraine has sufficient internal resources to buy weapons, which are not being fully utilized. We see that we have funds for increasing social payments, and we also have money to buy nuclear reactors that are planned to be completed. Even if they are delivered this year, they will still take years to finish, as nuclear reactors require extensive safety systems and a significant amount of construction work. It's a lengthy process, and we have almost a billion dollars allocated for this entire project. It's a strange situation. Therefore, Ukraine actually has far more resources available for producing weapons, which are not yet being fully utilized by the Ukrainian government.
Do you personally believe that the 1991 borders will be restored within the next two decades?
I believe in the 1991 borders, but, of course, this is not about a specific date. The borders will be restored not after a set amount of time, but when the Ukrainian people finally elect a competent, responsible government, perhaps for the first time, one that will initiate systemic reforms and build effective state institutions, making the government functional. Over time, if we build a state that honors the memory of the fallen heroes—tens, even hundreds of thousands—and establish an effective state, this state will make Ukraine strong, powerful both politically, economically, and militarily. Such a state will be in a position to reclaim its rightful 1991 borders. However, if we continue as always—replacing real action with empty words, simulacrums, these cargo cults, tales, and idle references to things that do not exist—if we only pretend to implement NATO standards, fight corruption, develop the economy, create a business-friendly environment, and protect property rights, if it all remains just words, then not only will such a state fail to reclaim anything, but it will be at great risk of complete destruction. Because our enemy at the border is very powerful, and Putin’s declared goal from the start of the so-called "SMO" (Special Military Operation) has been the destruction of Ukraine, not a truce. We must understand that these goals have only intensified, not softened. Therefore, the timeline depends on us. I have repeatedly said on my broadcasts that the situation on the front line could be very different—much more favorable and advantageous for political negotiations—if we had drawn reasonable, adequate conclusions, at least from our own mistakes, and stopped making the same blunders over and over.
In your opinion, can we hold out if US supplies are cut off?
Look, the US did not provide us with such significant amounts of weaponry at the beginning of the war. Nevertheless, we held out. How long can we sustain this? It depends not only on the United States but also on our European allies. And no less on the Ukrainian government—on the resources it allocates to the war and how effectively they are utilized. As for timelines, first of all, I believe it is completely inappropriate to speculate about the US cutting anything off. It is our key ally, and at this moment—let’s look at the facts—it is neither withdrawing support nor imposing restrictions. So why are we even discussing this when we should be addressing challenges as they arise? Let’s not scare ourselves or panic unnecessarily.
What do we need to win? How do we destroy Moscovia? Our rear must be producing weapons and ammunition 24/7.
Well, you've answered your own question.
I have dedicated broadcasts and articles on what needs to be done to achieve victory. I have spoken about this many times.
Can Zelenskyy be killed?
Friends, anything is possible in life. But who would truly need that? I don’t see it. From the very beginning of the war, Russia has been pressuring Zelenskyy to force negotiations. Yet, so far, there hasn’t been a single credible assassination on his life—neither in 2022 nor in 2023. Where does this narrative even come from? There are no facts—no photos, no videos, no evidence, no witnesses. Nothing. Except for statements from Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his PR team. There haven’t been any strikes on the Presidential Office, no drones flying there—nothing. So, I don’t think this is a real threat at the moment. Of course, precautions must be taken—that goes without saying.
If Russia recaptures its territory, will the enemy have enough forces to seize the Sumy region?
Well, so far, Russia has been unable to reclaim the buffer zone in the Kursk region. They are trying, making desperate efforts, but those efforts remain futile. Our troops are holding a significant buffer zone and effectively repelling Russian attacks. Does the enemy have enough forces to take the Sumy region? We see that they do not. They cannot even retake certain positions, including Sudzha, their own district center. So what is there to discuss?
Could Trump be playing the good cop, like an operative gaining the trust of the criminal Putler?
We simply don’t know, friends. Of course, all these compliments to Putin serve to set up a meeting and signal a willingness to negotiate. But negotiate about what? Since Trump hasn’t disclosed any details, these are purely speculative matters.
Putin benefits from these statements. Trump's remarks are highly demoralizing—both for some people in Ukraine and for some of Ukraine’s supporters worldwide. This ongoing strategy of destabilization and psychological pressure is a hallmark of Russian propaganda and information warfare. That's why Putin is interested in everything Trump says, and in general in creating this atmosphere that nothing depends on Ukraine anymore, that they will somehow divide, that they will make peace, that there is no need to fight, no need to resist, no need to spend money on the war - this is all the work of Russian propaganda, and they will support it. Regardless of how negotiations unfold.
Where is the balance between unity and preventing the government from turning into a dictatorship?
For a long time, there has been a standoff between society and the authorities, in which, unfortunately, elements of feudalism keep resurfacing. This is a deeply philosophical question.
What would you say about the Kursk operation, how will it end for us?
Well, I think that the Kursk operation is a very important story for the Ukrainian army, it's very right, it's the defence of our northern borders. And I think that the fact that we are fighting in the buffer zone, and the fact that the enemy is not able to destroy this buffer zone, despite all the efforts, the elite brigades that they have withdrawn from the front and thrown there in Kursk region, is a great success for the Ukrainian defence forces.
Would you hand over rare earth metals to the US in exchange for weapons already delivered? Doesn’t this resemble a Banana Republic approach?
Friends, Trump makes many such statements—highly provocative and lacking in detail. That is why I don’t find it appropriate to dwell on mere words in politics. It makes sense to discuss specific negotiation frameworks, concrete texts, and what exactly the US demands. So far, I have not seen any specifics, nor any counterproposals from Ukraine.
However, in his speech on Ukraine’s resilience plan, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself expressed readiness to attract foreign businesses to develop Ukraine’s natural resources. Personally, even before the war, I wrote multiple times about Ukraine’s major vulnerability: that strategic industries such as titanium mining and production were still, unfortunately, oriented towards the Russian Federation. In this context, bringing in US and European investors would strengthen our global influence. It would mean tax revenues and jobs. This is transparent business. Unfortunately, in Ukraine, the extraction of state-controlled natural resources has often been handed over to oligarchs close to the government. They buy the rights, and as a result, the state budget and the Ukrainian people receive mere crumbs. So, of course, I believe that under certain conditions that are reasonable and beneficial for Ukraine, attracting foreign investors, first of all, to all fields controlled by the state of Ukraine, is, in principle, the right story for us, on our terms, and we could find a common language with the United States. I don’t see any direct threat to Ukraine in this. However, in response to Trump’s remarks, I would like to hear what counterproposals the Ukrainian government is putting forward of its own initiative. So far, I have heard nothing. Zelenskyy made a general statement, but there has been no meaningful discussion—not at the Cabinet level, nor through expert roundtables. It gives the impression that our government exists solely through press releases and evening addresses, rather than as a functional institution. We have a resilience plan statement from the president, Trump’s demands, but no analytical response or conclusions from the Ukrainian government, the President’s Office, or the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. I hope that a comprehensive assessment of Trump’s statements and demands will be provided.
It would be highly beneficial for President Zelenskyy to hold a press conference with journalists, demonstrating that Ukraine has no issues with press freedom and remains a democratic country. He should use the opportunity to clearly respond to Trump’s attacks, dismantle his arguments, articulate Ukraine’s stance, and present counterproposals. In my view, this would be both reasonable and timely.
Why would Trump want to align with Russia?
So far, I don’t see any concrete steps indicating that Trump is seeking an alliance with Russia. I don’t believe that the United States—whose annual military budget is twice the size of Russia’s entire national budget—has any real need to align with Russia or anyone else. However, the U.S. does require engagement with Russia as a nuclear power and as a supplier of raw materials. That much is logical. As for an actual alliance, I don’t think anyone in America—whether Congress, the government, civil society, or U.S. businesses—would allow a single person, even the president, to make unilateral decisions on alliance. This is not about a formal alliance; rather, it’s about situational agreements with Putin that Trump wants to frame as quick political victories. This is a political issue. Let’s recall how Zelenskyy, when he first took office in 2019-2020, also engaged in similar maneuvers and rhetoric. Many of the statements back then closely resembled what Trump is saying now—calls for quick peace, claims that peace is achievable, that one just needs to look Putin in the eye and everything will work out, that a one-on-one meeting would settle everything, that a comprehensive ceasefire was within reach. Zelenskyy, too, sought quick political dividends. Now we see what those agreements with Putin, those face-to-face meetings, negotiations, and so-called comprehensive ceasefires were actually worth. Nothing. Zero. It was all just a smokescreen that Putin exploited. I hope that this time if Trump and Putin attempt a similar approach, the world—including Ukraine—will see through it much faster.
Was Mr. Drapatyi authorized to make personnel changes?
As far as I know, his authority remains quite limited. He has made certain personnel changes within the Ground Forces command structure and within the OSGT (Operational-Strategic Group of Troops) "Khortytsia" but this is not a rapid process. Well, we’ll see. Hopefully, he will be granted real decision-making powers.
Do you think that the way Europe has stood up for is not the response to Trump? What, in your opinion, would be a response?
The response to Trump, in my opinion, if Europe has some kind of opposite position from the United States, is to give an assessment that no agreements from Ukraine are really possible, and to give guarantees of aid to Ukraine even if the United States halts its aid. This should be backed by an actual increase in financial and military aid—real commitments, real guarantees. That, in my opinion, would be an adequate response to Trump’s actions. If such a foundation were in place, then Europe could go beyond mere declarations and refusals to recognize unfavorable conditions for Ukraine and European security. Such statements would carry real weight. This would serve as an effective mechanism of control. At the moment, however, we do not see Europe allocating the necessary budget or securing financial backing for its political stance. Measures have been announced, certain plans outlined, but they have yet to be fully implemented.
Have you read the SSU statement that Russians are preparing protests now? What do you think about it?
The SSU regularly makes statements at the request of the Presidential Office. It's been happening all these years, that there is always some Shatun plan against the president (Shatun plan - destabilization plan attributed to Russia - ed. note). In fact, we understand that Zelenskyy is simply frightened that someone will hold a protest against Trump's statements and this will be a reason for Trump to say that he is really unpopular. Zelenskyy is only concerned about his rating in this situation of holding on to power. And of course, in such circumstances, he is very sensitive and tries to avoid this. That is why such statements have been made many times before the war. Let's remember that in 2021, Zelensky personally exposed Akhmetov's mutiny. And where is this mutiny? Where is anyone detained from the rebels? This is just another PR stunt, information noise. I take it with irony.
What is happening with the 110th Brigade now?
The 110th Brigade is in a difficult situation due to an absolutely ill-considered decision by the Armed Forces' leadership—specifically, by Oleksandr Syrskyi—to remove the entire command of the brigade. Completely reckless. I've already mentioned that Syrskyi has his favorites—some brigade commanders who are forgiven everything, including the loss of positions. Meanwhile, those who simply lacked the manpower to hold Velyka Novosilka, the commanders who refused to sacrifice all their troops and instead managed to withdraw the remaining defenders in time, are now being blamed. This is simply unfair. I see it as an act of cowardice on Syrskyi’s part, as he clearly values his position more than the trust of his subordinates. This level of disregard for the military is something I take personally. It’s honestly unpleasant to witness. And this decision has significantly undermined the brigade’s combat effectiveness—severely. I won’t go into detail about the consequences, but they are serious. Positions have been lost because the new commanders, instead of being familiar with the unit and understanding its personnel, have come in with a simplistic hold-on, "push forward" approach, without grasping the real frontline situation. Naturally, when such individuals are put in charge of an infantry brigade that has been worn down by prolonged fighting and harsh battlefield conditions, it leads to nothing but negative outcomes. This was a terrible decision. I may write more about it later, but this is yet another personnel mistake by Syrskyi—one with grave consequences.
Are there any chances of a full occupation of Ukraine and the connection with recent events?
Dear friends, I want to tell you that while all these tumultuous events are unfolding here, tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are not watching this broadcast because they are carrying out combat missions in freezing temperatures that drop to minus 20 at night in the Donbas steppe. It’s like the Arctic out there. And I want to emphasize that these people are Ukraine’s shield. It is Ukrainian defenders who make Ukraine’s position strong and influential. And no matter what agreements are made, no matter what is said in Moscow, Paris, or Washington—it doesn’t change the fact that Ukraine’s strength comes from the resilience of its soldiers. It is the determination of Ukrainian citizens—not fear, not bribery, but the conscious choice of disciplined people—to fight the Russian occupiers and hold the frontline that makes Ukraine a sovereign and influential force in the world. The Ukrainian army is the only, yet absolutely reliable, guarantee that a full occupation will never happen. It is simply impossible. The Russians will run out before the enemy ever manages to conquer Ukraine. This has been proven and continues to be proven every day by the Ukrainian heroes defending our country on the front lines. And our task is to support them with everything we have.
There are a lot of requests from the frontline, and the military are all watching this process very closely. People need to have as much information as possible about a possible truce, a possible ceasefire. In order to allocate their resources, their lives, their equipment, their weapons, and to understand their tactics and strategy. This is very important. And it is very important to understand that the state and society support the Ukrainian army. They support the Ukrainian resistance. This is of great importance. That is why I hope that in this situation, the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself, the military leadership, they will do everything possible to still find time to visit our frontline units. And not just to visit them at the level of a visit, to take a photo at the brigade command post, but to get to the battalions and talk to company commanders. In other words, to make the army feel the attention, to understand that this is the only argument of Ukraine in the modern world. It is the only argument that makes any words of Ukrainian politicians meaningful. It is our only guarantee, a true guarantee of security. So I would like to thank the Ukrainian soldiers. And I have no doubt that in this situation, under this pressure, Ukraine has enough internal resources and reserves to increase support for the army and strengthen Ukrainian resistance and show Putin that he will not succeed in any way, militarily, in occupying Ukraine. We have every opportunity to build a buffer zone along this front line and completely stop the Russian offensive and destroy the Russian strike groups. So I believe that this crisis will also allow us to win and preserve the Ukrainian nation and Ukraine.
Glory to Ukraine!
