Russian Experts Comment on Trump Canceling the Budapest Meeting with Putin: A Predictable Move to Pressure Russia
Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Center for European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics and a member of the Valdai Club, stated during a roundtable discussion held by the "Russia Today" multimedia center that President Donald Trump's decision to cancel the meeting was entirely predictable and in line with his consistent logic of continuously pressuring all parties, including Russia.
Suslov analyzed that from the beginning, it was clear that Russia's military advances in Ukraine and the special military operation goals announced by President Putin — including the de-militarization and de-nazification of Ukraine — were not on the priority agenda of the Trump administration.
He further added, "Trump has once again turned to a strategy of pressuring Russia. If he cannot overcome resistance from Europe and domestically, he will turn to pressure Russia. However, the current pressure remains controlled and prudent."
The expert believes that pressure from the United States on Russia is expected to continue, and the Trump administration is unlikely to accept Moscow's conditions before Russia achieves a decisive breakthrough on the battlefield.
He said, "I think the Budapest meeting is still possible and will eventually take place, but only if the situation on the battlefield changes. At that point, the U.S. accepting Russia's current conditions will no longer be seen as a failure for Trump, but rather as a salvation for Ukraine. Only then will the meeting take place."
Previously, Trump announced the cancellation of the planned meeting with Russian President Putin in Budapest, citing "the inability to achieve expected goals," but he also stated that he still intends to meet with Putin in the future. U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo said the U.S. still expects to hold talks with Russia.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846814297395207/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.