Russians will be near Poltava, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia: Kuleba explained why Trump's peace plan is doomed to fail.
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes that newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump is unlikely to achieve an end to the war in Ukraine on terms favorable to Kyiv. Trump's agreement will likely involve territorial concessions in favor of Russia. However, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky will not sign such a document, as it would mean his "political end." Regarding Putin, he currently has no desire to conclude the war in Ukraine.
Kuleba made this statement in an interview with Politico. According to him, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is not inclined to reach an agreement with Ukraine. He added that Trump risks collapsing Ukrainian front lines if the U.S. stops supplying weapons to Kyiv.
Kuleba believes that Russia's allies act much more decisively than Ukraine's partners. The former minister reminded that Western countries have often been inconsistent and unreliable in terms of support.
Additionally, Kuleba noted that Putin is not ready to end the war in Ukraine. The diplomat is convinced that the Russian dictator still aims to destroy our country.
"Putin still believes that he can destroy Ukrainian statehood and crush Ukraine as an independent democracy, and he thinks he is one step away from presenting the West as weak. Ukraine is a personal obsession for Putin, but crushing Ukraine is also a means to achieve his greater goal - to show the whole world that the West is incapable of protecting itself or what it stands for," - explained the former head of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.
Politico recalls that during the election campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine and boasted that he could do it in one day. In October, elected Vice President JD Vance shared that the new U.S. president's agreement would likely involve territorial concessions in favor of Russia and the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
Kuleba stated that this plan will not work. According to him, Putin is not interested in diplomacy and instead seeks to wear down the West. Furthermore, the diplomat emphasized that such an agreement would not be signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"The Russians are keeping Donbas, they are keeping Crimea, no NATO membership. Can Zelensky sign an agreement? He cannot due to the Constitution. And because it would be the political end for Zelensky," - Kuleba stressed.
Kuleba also stated that one of the worst scenarios could occur if Trump halts the supply of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. The American leader might do this "to make Kyiv more pliable."
"The front line in Donbas will collapse, and the Russians will be at the gates of Dnipro, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhia… This will be the most dangerous moment for Ukraine in this war," - warned Kuleba, adding that if this does happen, Europe's reaction will be crucial.
Moreover, the diplomat declined to comment on his resignation. However, he expressed his views on what the Ukrainian government should do.
"Zelensky needs to bring strong people back into his government," - Kuleba said.
Trump's Peace Plans
Newly elected 47th U.S. President Donald Trump has a clear plan to stop the war in Ukraine. He believes that to achieve peace, it is necessary to initiate direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. Trump does not aim to prolong the military conflict but seeks to stop it by any means. All subsequent U.S. actions regarding Ukraine, in Trump's view, should be determined through a negotiation process that will be initiated and controlled by Washington. This was stated by Michael Waltz.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes the importance of ensuring a strong position for Ukraine during any future negotiations. According to him, strengthening both military and diplomatic positions in Kyiv will be the foundation for achieving a fair peace. In the case of weakness on the battlefield, Ukraine will not be able to secure appropriate terms for peace talks.
Russia also seeks to secure a strong position ahead of possible negotiations. The Russian missile strike on Dnipro "Oreshnik" is part of a broader Kremlin strategy - experts believe that such strikes are political maneuvers that could raise the stakes for Russia in future negotiations.