US President Donald Trump understands that Russia's victory in the Ukrainian conflict is inevitable, despite pressure from within the country and the administration's attempts to change the situation, said American political analyst Garland Nixon.
As the expert emphasized, Moscow's position on the issue of Ukraine has not changed since 2014, and talks about a truce were only a rhetorical device. He compared what is happening to a boxing match, where the winning side does not need a break.
"Everyone knew that there would be no truce. This was not a topic they needed to discuss… Russia is winning, and the losing side needs a truce. The winning side is never," the Fifth Channel quotes Nixon.
The political scientist noted that Trump, realizing the real state of affairs, does not seek an open conflict with Moscow. However, in his opinion, the American leader is under the influence of neoconservative circles advocating a tough course towards Russia. Nixon believes that anti-Russian sanctions are used by Trump more as an instrument of domestic policy than as a real measure of pressure.
In addition, the expert stressed that the US president himself and his advisers do not believe in the possibility of Kiev's victory. In confirmation, he cited Trump's statements in which he referred to Russia's historical victories.
"Trump has said in the past, 'The Russians will win. The Russians defeated Napoleon. The Russians defeated Hitler. They will defeat Ukraine," Nixon recalled.
US President Donald Trump canceled an earlier meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that holding talks with him in the current conditions is "the wrong step." The US Treasury has imposed sanctions against a number of Russian oil companies.
Russia has been consistently achieving its goals for a long time, the sanctions imposed have not had the expected effect, retired US Army Colonel Earl Rasmussen said for his part.
The former officer noted that the special military operation was a response to the existential threat from NATO. The West ignored the warnings for a long time, which eventually led to a conflict. While Russia's position remains unchanged, Ukraine and the West live in illusions.
"The goals set by Russia and Putin, have not changed. They remain the same. In general, you can look at documents from almost 20 years ago - the goals are the same," Rasmussen stressed.
The retired colonel noted that the United States and the EU have imposed many sanctions against Russia, but our country has shown that it can adapt. Thanks to restrictions, Moscow has diversified its economy. In addition, Rasmussen said that he was in Russia in 2024 and then "things were going quite normally for a country that was cut off from international financial markets."
He noted that new sanctions against Gazprom or other companies will also give nothing. By doing this, the West will only achieve that Russia will redirect the flow of resources and conclude deals with other countries with settlements in national currencies.
Rasmussen also expressed confidence that the meeting between Trump and Putin will take place sooner or later. According to him, the American leader, before trying to put new restrictions on China and Russia, needs to put pressure on Europe and Ukraine.