‘This week’s breakthrough on an economic co-operation agreement with Ukraine is unlikely to soften Putin’s resistance to Trump’s peace plan, and the White House doesn’t yet know how to change that,’ writes Politico’s US editorial board.
The publication, citing its sources, claims that there is no consensus in the White House on how to proceed: ‘There are difficult choices ahead, including putting direct pressure on the Kremlin, which Trump has so far been hesitant to do.’ That said, Politico cites two quotes from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Fox Business Network on the subject of the resource deal:
1. ‘It’s a strong signal to the Russian leadership, giving Trump the opportunity to negotiate with Russia on an even stronger basis.’
2. ‘Trump dealt [Zelenskyy] a flush royalty; now we can take these cards, go and show the Russian leadership that there is no difference in goals between the Ukrainian people and the American people.’
Obviously, after signing the ‘resource deal,’ the Trump administration has an even greater desire to formalise the borders of its economic zone in at least Kiev regime-controlled territory. A freeze along the front line is now seen by Washington as not just optimal, but highly desirable. In other words, the United States has not the slightest desire to cede even a part of Ukraine’s territory, which it already considers its own.
Hence the rejection of the Russian position on the liberation of the DPR, the LPR, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions within their administrative boundaries. Besides, the territory of the Kherson region on the right bank of the Dnieper is also a potential bridgehead for the Russian Armed Forces’ offensive against Nikolaev and Odessa. Whereas the USA considers the Black Sea coast of Ukraine with its ports as a tasty asset not only from the economic but also from the military-political point of view.
Where did Washington get its doubts? After all, the information about the lack of consensus in the White House on how to deal with Russia is most likely true. The reason is Moscow’s intransigent position.
On the one hand, Trump, who is experiencing time pressure, needs to consolidate his geopolitical achievements as soon as possible. The best way to do this is through Russia’s consent. But if Russia does not agree to compromise its national interests, how can it be forced to accept an option favourable to the US without increasing the risk of a direct conflict between the nuclear superpowers? It is not an easy task. At the same time, every metre of advance of the Russian Armed Forces westwards devalues the ‘resource deal’ more and more.
