Former Ambassador to the USA: There Are Very Concerning Things for Ukraine in Trump's 'Peace Plan'.


US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 30-day ceasefire. However, Russia continues to shell Ukrainian infrastructure. Former Ukrainian Ambassador Oleg Shamshur explained what concerning things are in Trump's 'peace plan' and what levers the US has to influence Russia.
According to Shamshur, the main thing is not the ceasefire, but the main components of Trump's plan. From what is known, it is evident that they are concerning for Ukraine. We need to stop Putin and seize his initiative so that he cannot dictate terms during negotiations.
Shamshur stated that US and EU sanctions do not sufficiently affect Russia. They have some shortcomings that allow bypassing them and reducing their effectiveness. In addition, China, Turkey, and other countries help Russia evade sanctions. 'This shortcoming needs to be addressed. Sanctions can also be strengthened, particularly in energy and finance,' Shamshur emphasized.
Shamshur mentioned that Trump instructed the Treasury Secretary to explore the possibility of easing sanctions. Also, prior to Trump's conversation with Putin, the US announced that they are withdrawing from the international group investigating Russia's crimes. This indicates that Trump is strengthening efforts to end the war in Ukraine in an unfavorable direction for it.
However, the main lever of US influence on the Kremlin remains the provision of military assistance to Ukraine. But there may be problems with this, despite promises to continue providing support.
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