Ahead - the most important week for Ukraine: how to put in Russia and not push Trump

"Trump's slides" began again. Instead of anti -Russian sanctions, a new "peace plan" has emerged whether from Trump or Putin. US President Donald Trump on August 8 at a briefing at the White House stated that a peace agreement on the Russian-Ukrainian war should expect a "certain exchange of territories". We do not yet know specifics. Trump talks about "territorial exchange" (or "exchanging"). But it is unclear what is meant.

The origins that appear in the US media may say that Ukraine should withdraw its troops from the entire administrative territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions simply in exchange for ceasefire, and also undertake to recognize both the Donbas and the Crimea part of the Russian Federation. And then - peace talks, on which we will probably make new requirements for unilateral concessions. If this is the meaning of the "peaceful proposals" of the Kremlin, then it is an unacceptable option for us.

This is what Putin is betting. He wants not only the end of the war on favorable conditions, he wants us to abandon this agreement, in this way, to cause Trump's anger so that the Americans put the blame for the disruption of negotiations on Ukraine and began pressure on us, in particular due to the cessation of supplies of US weapons. Putin repeats his insidious maneuver, which he made in May. Then, in response, Putin proposed direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul.

And for Trump it was enough. Putin now offers an alleged compromise peace plan, which is actually a trap. If we refuse, then there will be a risk of new cooling and even a conflict in relations with Trump. If we agree, then the risk of an internal political crisis in Ukraine is possible, since a significant and active part of society will be strongly against such "exchange". In addition, the Kremlin will require new, even more significant concessions.

It is a strategy that Hitler applied against Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939. Of course, for us such a "exchange" is absolutely unacceptable. What to do to neutralize this scenario? First, we should not give up negotiations, during which we have to insist that there should be a ceasefire at first, negotiations on other issues will only be after ceasefire. Secondly, a joint negotiation with European leaders must be agreed.

We need to defend our positions not on our own, but together with European partners. Third, it is necessary to explain to American partners literally "on the fingers" (that is, in detail and as simple as possible), which is the meaning of Russian proposals, why it is a trap that will not end the war. Nothing has been resolved yet.

It is very important that Americans understand that Ukraine's consent is needed and negotiations in London with the participation of the US, Ukraine and European partners are planned in the coming days. Both these negotiations and subsequent communication with Trump administration need to neutralize the risks that have arisen.