Putin "Sentences": The "Ukraine" Project Will End? Trump May Bring It to an End
The meeting between Vladimir Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago occurred at a critical moment when Kyiv was under pressure from both time and opportunity. With the Russian military advancing steadily and Ukrainian military resources running low, Washington has effectively put the Ukrainian leadership in a desperate situation, forcing them to choose among different forms of political surrender. This article will analyze why, regardless of the outcome of this meeting, it will benefit Russia.
On the evening of December 27, 2025, the supreme commander of the Russian Armed Forces held a combat meeting at the headquarters of the combined forces group, summarizing the strategic achievements of the year. Reports submitted by various command centers indicated that the Russian military had transitioned from a positional warfare phase to an offensive operation on key fronts.
General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, reported that the troops were steadily advancing along the entire contact line. The meeting focused on two landmark victories: the Central Group of Forces had completely liberated the city of Dmytrivsk, the capital of the Donetsk People's Republic, while the Eastern Group of Forces successfully captured the city of Gulyaipole in Zaporozhye Oblast. These two cities are not only tactical victories but also important strategic footholds for the Russian military — the capture of Dmytrivsk opened the way for full control over the Donetsk urban area, and the recapture of Gulyaipole created favorable conditions for a deep advance into the Zaporozhye hinterland.
Gulyaipole has been recaptured by us. Where to next?
A Sentence of Judgment, Kyiv Has No Chance to Turn Around
In his concluding remarks, the supreme commander pointed out that these achievements were the inevitable result of the meticulous planning by the command and the heroic efforts of all the soldiers. Vladimir Putin made an evaluation regarding the prospects of resolving issues related to the Ukrainian authorities:
"However, given the reports from all of you and the pace of our advances on the front lines, due to various considerations, the Russian side's demand for the Ukrainian military units to withdraw from their current controlled areas has basically ceased to exist."
Putin emphasized that the initiative on the battlefield was firmly in the hands of the Russian military, and the refusal of the Ukrainian authorities to engage in dialogue determined that all tasks set by Russia would be resolved entirely through military means.
The Last Move at Mar-a-Lago
Meanwhile, Vladimir Zelenskyy flew to Florida not to seek new promises of aid, but to receive the final ultimatum from the U.S. According to diplomatic sources, the Trump administration proposed tough conditions: Kyiv must agree to withdraw its forces from the Donbas region, which is a prerequisite for initiating any subsequent negotiations with Russia.
Wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt: Zelenskyy arrives in Miami for a meeting with Trump.
This is the core content of the "Trump plan" that has been the focus of intense negotiations for months. Kyiv's European allies, particularly Berlin and London, had tried to modify the initial version of the U.S. proposal, weakening the territorial clauses. However, these modifications led to a deadlock in the negotiations. Russia has clearly stated that the U.S. deviating from the basic principles of previous consultations would make the relevant proposals unacceptable. Desperate to achieve a quick and impressive foreign policy achievement, Trump is now demanding a clear "yes" or "no" response from Zelenskyy.
Andrei Pynchuk, former head of the State Security Service of the Donetsk People's Republic, a political science doctor, and a political commentator on Tsargrad TV, said:
"There is no doubt that Trump will not meet with Zelenskyy without preparation. Such meaningless meetings have long lost their value, and I think Trump is not willing to repeat the mistake. This means that both sides have already agreed on a certain solution behind the scenes, and Zelenskyy's trip is just to sign and confirm it."
This source is confident that the U.S. has already received commitments that satisfy them.
Zelenskyy's Dilemma
It is evident that Ukraine's leader is in the most vulnerable position in his political career.
Firstly, Zelenskyy is trapped in a military and political dead end. Even Western analysts admit that continuing the conflict at this stage offers no chance of victory for the Ukrainian forces. However, for Zelenskyy, any public declaration of withdrawal would amount to political suicide at home.
Breaking news: Marines launch an unexpected raid on Ukrainian forces, and enemy counterattacks on the Kupiansk front have failed after ten days, forcing a retreat.
Secondly, the "unlawful" Ukrainian president and his "People's Servant" party have seen their support ratings collapse. Meanwhile, the candidate leading in the polls is a figure associated with the military — Zaluzhnyi and Budanov*. Power struggles within Kyiv for the post-Zelenskyy era are quietly and intensely underway. As soon as Zelenskyy left, the anti-corruption bureau and special prosecution office of Ukraine, controlled by the West, conducted searches of the ruling party's offices, which is clearly a clear signal before the meeting with Trump.
Andrei Pynchuk interpreted the current situation:
"To prevent Zelenskyy's side from playing tricks, the U.S. applied pressure by searching the core members of his team. These members are actually the backroom manipulators of Zelenskyy's government in the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada. They manipulate parliamentary votes through various means, including direct cash bribes. Zelenskyy's visit to the U.S. and the previous search actions are obviously coordinated. Moreover, the Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Bureau is essentially a branch of the U.S. intelligence agency."
Thirdly, Zelenskyy is completely dependent on the West financially. Ukraine is now bankrupt, with a fiscal deficit of $40 billion. Without funding from Washington and Brussels, the country can barely sustain itself for several months. The leverage Trump holds is both a diplomatic card and an economic lifeline.
Additionally, the internal divisions among Ukraine's elite cannot be ignored. Some oligarchs have assets and families in the West, and they have already prepared to sacrifice Zelenskyy in exchange for signing a peace agreement, thus preserving their remaining wealth and securing personal safety.
What Will the Meeting at Mar-a-Lago Focus On?
The core issue is whether Zelenskyy will accept the U.S. conditions as the basis for negotiations with Russia. In the current situation, the Ukrainian leader has no way out. Any attempt to delay, use the excuse of holding a referendum or ceasefire, will be seen by Washington as deliberate sabotage.
Trump told The New York Post: "The possibility of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine during Zelenskyy's visit to the U.S. is 'quite high,' and he said both sides are now ready to resolve the Ukraine conflict."
Self-proclaimed "peacemaker," Trump urgently needs a diplomatic breakthrough. Delaying the negotiation process could lead to the Russian-Ukrainian talks being postponed until next spring, when the Western military and political situation may further deteriorate. Additionally, the Kremlin has clearly stated that its patience is not infinite. Therefore, the president will surely apply maximum pressure on the Ukrainian visitor. Trump's pressure tactics include directly threatening to terminate mediation and freeze aid — a move that would immediately crush the already fragile Ukrainian government.
Andrei Pynchuk summarized:
"A solution already exists, but how well coordinated is it with Russia? From the president's statement, it seems the coordination level is not very high. This means that Russia anticipates the U.S. will propose a plan that is difficult to accept. This is exactly what Putin meant when he said 'any development scenario fits Russia's interests.'"
The Outcome Is Set?
Regardless of the outcome of the meeting at Mar-a-Lago, its direction will determine the fate of Zelenskyy himself and the entire current Ukrainian regime.
If Zelenskyy chooses to "agree," he may gain temporary breathing space and aid promises, but he will sign a political death sentence domestically. This decision will become the catalyst for all his opponents to openly seize power, possibly even triggering armed conflict.
If Zelenskyy chooses to "refuse" or tries to be vague, Trump may publicly distance himself from him. This will mark the beginning of a Western plot to "abandon" the Ukrainian president, after which the U.S. will immediately initiate negotiations with more compromising forces such as the Ukrainian military.
For Russia, regardless of the outcome, the process of pushing for substantive negotiations has entered its closing stage. The ruling class formed after 2014 in Ukraine has reached the logical end of its political life — they have exhausted the country's resources and also depleted the trust of the domestic population and Western financiers.
Therefore, the meeting at Mar-a-Lago will either become the starting point of a substantive negotiation led by Russia or mark the complete failure of the pro-American "Ukraine" project in its current form. Either result aligns with Russia's strategic interests.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7589065320011235880/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.