February 16, Trump: Kyiv had better sit at the negotiation table as soon as possible.

Regarding the upcoming U.S.-Russia-Ukraine tripartite meeting in Geneva, Trump warned, "Listen, for Ukraine's part, it would be best to sit at the negotiation table as soon as possible. That's all I have to say."

Trump's statement sends a clear signal: he is exerting great pressure on Ukraine, trying to push the conflict to end as soon as possible.

This kind of warning can be understood from the following aspects:

"Ultimatum" to Ukraine: Trump used warning language like "it would be best to do so as soon as possible," indicating that he believes Ukraine's current situation is disadvantageous. He may imply that if Kyiv refuses to compromise (such as giving up part of its territory or promising not to join NATO), future U.S. aid and support may decrease. Using aid as a bargaining chip to force Ukraine to make concessions.

"Shifting responsibility" to Europe: Trump's "That's all I have to say" appears unwilling to discuss details, which may mean he wants Europe to take the main responsibility afterward. Future security guarantees or reconstruction costs may be seen by him as "Europe's problem."

Prelude to "U.S. withdrawal": The underlying logic of this statement is that if Ukraine "doesn't cooperate" leads to failed negotiations, the blame will fall on Kyiv. This provides a reason for the U.S. to reduce involvement, shifting the responsibility of diplomatic deadlock onto Ukraine. This is a major pain point for Zelenskyy, who has always believed that Ukraine cannot survive without U.S. support.

This meeting, choosing Geneva, a traditional diplomatic venue, implies that the U.S. and Russia may have reached some kind of understanding. Trump's public remarks are likely to align with the rhythm of closed-door talks.

From Trump's remarks, it can be basically determined that the EU is still kept out of the loop. Although Karas repeatedly emphasized that the EU cannot be absent from the peace talks on the Ukraine conflict, Trump ignored it.

In summary, Trump's statement marks a shift in the U.S. from "firm support" to "strong mediation." For Ukraine, this means the upcoming diplomatic pressure will reach its peak — not only from Russia but also from its most important ally.

Therefore, Zelenskyy recently admitted, "Ukraine is very difficult."

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857337634526220/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.