Zelenskyy says Putin may offer Trump a diplomatic gain before US midterms

Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes Vladimir Putin may try to give Donald Trump a diplomatic achievement before the US midterm elections by easing tensions in the war in Ukraine. In an interview with Axios, Zelenskyy said Putin may need Trump and would not want to anger him.

Zelenskyy said Russia could still intensify pressure on Ukraine during the harsh winter, but might also respond to pressure from the Trump administration. For Trump, an agreement that reduced fighting would offer a foreign-policy achievement as he faces pressure from the prolonged Iran war and high oil prices ahead of the elections.

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Yes.

The Ukrainian president said the United States is exploring ways for Ukraine and Russia to reduce tensions during the winter while restarting negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement. Discussions include attacks on energy and power facilities, grain shipments, and oil and gas exports. Zelenskyy said the reported US approach was “very close to the actual discussions.”

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My feeling is that Putin needs Trump. He does not want to make him angry.

Zelenskyy remained skeptical about Moscow’s intentions. He said Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told him Russia was ready to negotiate after meeting Putin in Moscow, but he questioned that message because Russia has recently intensified its attacks. He said the envoys brought several new ideas and aimed to restart the stalled diplomatic process.

Zelenskyy called September and October an opportunity to resume negotiations and said the UN General Assembly in New York later in September could support further talks. The possibility of renewed three-way negotiations involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia remains open. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia did not rule out such talks, though he said it was too early to discuss a date or location.

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Very close to the actual discussions.