Humiliate the Russians: Stop negotiating, stop looking at Trump's face - Commentary

June 3, 2025

16:55

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Lubov Stepushova, an observer of Pravda, believes that the Istanbul negotiations should have ended with an ultimatum to Kiev or an explanation of why Russia has "not yet" started the long-overdue action. However, Russia is still acting out of inertia, unwilling to provoke US President Donald Trump.

The Istanbul negotiations were organized according to Trump's wishes and instructions. His interests seem to be commercial interests - the US has given Ukraine $30 billion, and now it is time to develop mineral resources in Ukraine that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has granted to the US as a token of "gratitude." Therefore, the US side has sent word: either you reach an agreement, or... Trump also clearly stated the consequences of the "or": "hellish sanctions" on Russia and cessation of military aid to Ukraine, and even "I will withdraw from the project."

These threats are extremely terrifying for Ukraine, but not so obvious for Russia - here more "carrots" are at work: joint projects, lifting sanctions on "Ross Agribank," and recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, which increases Russia's income and security to some extent. For example, the last point has made NATO and Ukraine abandon their claims on the eastern Black Sea region. These benefits are many, but not crucial. Therefore, Russia approaches negotiations with a different mindset than Ukraine: if we reach an agreement, it's good; if not - we will advance our plans through "special military operations."

But everything changed yesterday (June 1). That day, a thorough terrorist attack occurred in Bryansk Oblast. This was not sabotage, but a real terrorist attack - someone blew up a bridge loaded with explosives at a specific time, causing the bridge to collapse and crush a passenger train. This can no longer be ignored like the "Krasnodar Concert Hall Terrorist Incident," so it should have withdrawn from the "Istanbul negotiations" and declared war on international terrorism.

However, the State Duma remained silent, and the Kremlin decided to negotiate with forces that had been plotting the "web" operation (testing Russia's nuclear triad airpower) with Western intelligence agencies for over a year and a half. And they almost succeeded. Now the other side knows (to put it metaphorically, or rather literally) how to destroy Russia's nuclear shield - not with ballistic missiles, but with Ukrainian drones launched from trucks by saboteurs within Russia.

Ukraine came to Istanbul with a high spirit of "humiliating the Russians." But Russia's intentions were unclear after the Bryansk incident, as no statements were made by Russian leadership figures.

On June 2, Zelenskyy claimed at the "Budapest Nine Countries Summit" held in Lithuania that Russia could defeat them with "the best weapons" and "stronger tactics."

"Our 'web' operation yesterday proved this," he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also stated at the meeting that Ukraine's path to NATO membership is irreversible, and its membership does not belong to the content of peace talks with Russia.

"Ukraine will have all the necessary resources to win this struggle, ending the terrible invasion war initiated by Russia," Stoltenberg said.

Underestimating these remarks is tantamount to self-destruction. Perhaps it's time to stop looking at the face of the "good guy" Trump, who didn't even notice the terrorist attack in Bryansk Oblast? And CNN reported that US Defense Secretary Pete Higgenbotham watched live on June 1 the attack by Ukrainian drones on Russian military airfields. Does this mean he was aware of it?

The only way to reverse the situation is to issue an ultimatum to Ukraine, and we strongly hope such an ultimatum has already been issued in the Istanbul negotiations. According to Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, Russia has proposed to Ukraine a suggestion of a "specific ceasefire for two to three days in individual sectors of the front line." This is another套路of Trump.

Negotiating with Kiev is untimely and will never bear fruit. The war will only end when Ukraine ceases to exist.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511919153121395263/

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