As the elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, prepares to take office, Ukraine is doing everything it can to "charm" him and demonstrate that a deal with Russia will cost America dearly in the long run.
According to The Times, under a law known as the Logan Act, incoming administrations cannot conduct foreign policy with international partners. However, there is a belief among Ukrainian officials that Trump's team is still in the process of discussing their strategy, and Ukraine is doing everything possible to influence this process.
For several weeks now, trusted associates of President Volodymyr Zelensky have been persuading Donald Trump's entourage in Washington. Some initiatives have proven to be quite unexpected, the publication notes. In particular, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Rada, Oleksandr Merezhko, has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Merezhko believes that Trump is a "pragmatist, not a dogmatist," and that he can be swayed to support Ukraine if convinced that a deal with Putin will ultimately cost the U.S. more in the long term.
Furthermore, Zelensky has proposed joint U.S. investments in the development of Ukraine's natural resources as part of his victory plan.
"However, Russia still shows no signs of being willing to discuss any peace agreements other than those that imply Ukraine's complete capitulation. The task of the new administration is not only to act as a mediator in achieving a ceasefire but also to compel Putin to sit at the negotiating table," The Times writes.
At the same time, the Russian economy appears increasingly troubled, and the incentive provided by the sharp rise in military production is weakening. Given this, U.S. sanctions could serve as the motivation needed to compel Russia to engage seriously in negotiations, says former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodniuk.
Donald Trump and Ukraine
As reported by UNIAN, Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Trump can stop Putin, as he genuinely wants to end the war. In his view, Trump is "strong and unpredictable." The President of Ukraine hopes that Trump's unpredictability will primarily concern the Russian Federation.
Zelensky also stated that he could meet with Donald Trump soon after his inauguration.