Zelenskyy was tricked, Trump helped Putin occupy more Ukrainian territory
According to The Daily Telegraph, on August 22, US President Trump, after meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy in Alaska, stated that he hoped to assess the positions of all parties within two weeks before deciding on the next step.
Trump claimed that this was a necessary period of observation to determine whether Moscow and Kyiv were willing to make compromises for a ceasefire.
However, this statement caused dissatisfaction among British media, who feared that it actually gave Russia an opportunity to advance further on the battlefield.
From Ukraine's perspective, this negotiation itself was a passive performance.
Zelenskyy had originally expected the United States to provide more commitments in terms of security and military aid, but Trump's strategy seemed completely different.
He did not rush to increase aid to Ukraine, but instead continuously emphasized the need to give both sides some time to find what he called a more balanced solution.
The problem is that this period is a real gain for Russia.
The Russian army used this gap to reinforce supplies, move troops, and advance on multiple fronts.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, found himself in a dilemma under political and military pressure, unable to accept the conditions of territorial concessions for a ceasefire, yet unable to obtain sufficient external support.
The attitude of Europe was also complex.
France and Germany repeatedly warned Trump not to hint at any space for territorial concessions in the negotiations, as this would amount to encouraging Russia to continue taking risks on the battlefield.
But Trump apparently did not heed these warnings, and in public he continued to maintain a "neutral" stance, even making it a core policy to let Ukraine and Russia negotiate on their own.
This strategy objectively gave Russia more leverage, allowing Putin to pressure Ukraine both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
For Zelenskyy, this was undoubtedly a passive and isolated situation: the front lines were stretched, resources were consumed, and the United States stood by watching.
It can also be seen that Trump's real intention was to help Putin gain time, allowing Russia to occupy more Ukrainian land - Ukraine does not give up, you just go fight yourself.
This was also a form of pressure on Ukraine - if you do not accept the loss of territory, then you just defend it yourself.
Therefore, although Trump appeared to be pushing for peace talks, in fact, he was only trying to boost his own presence, and fundamentally, he still wanted Ukraine and Russia to solve the issue on the battlefield themselves.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841227178340355/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.