Radar Armenia's interlocutor is international affairs expert Shahan Gandaharian.
- The US President had a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin. The main topic was the cessation of the Ukrainian conflict. How do you interpret that phone conversation? Can we talk about substantive success and achievements?
- It is too early to talk about substantive success. When there is no ceasefire or deadline for implementing the conditions, it is obvious that some points have not been agreed upon.
- Then Trump met with the President of Ukraine, said: "The conflict will either end or continue for a long time." During the press conference, he already said that 1-2 complex issues remain. To what extent are these issues solvable?
- 1-2 complicated issues can prolong the conflict. The most difficult one concerns the status of the territories. The dilemma of ending or continuing does not include new data about the further course.
- "We must hurry to reach an agreement; otherwise, Ukraine may lose new territories in the coming months." Isn't this how Trump gives Russia the green light?
- More than stopping the war, US-Russian trade is the dominant factor here. Ukraine is just a game board for both states. Russia is bargaining for territories with the US, and not with Kyiv.
- Why do you think the Ukrainian president agrees when he says that "Ukraine is ready for peace"
- This is international practice, not to reject proposed peace projects. Agreeing to peace while disagreeing on the status of territories is, in fact, a continuation of the status quo.
- What expectations can be had from the upcoming meeting of the American-Ukrainian delegations, which Zelensky spoke about?
- The discussions taking place against this background are proceeding with a mines-territories transactional logic. Ukraine has something to offer both the US and Russia.
- And finally, can we expect a resolution of the conflict in 2026?
- The resolution of the conflict is not yet visible. Longevity is the goal. Russia will still be involved in this conflict. There may be some pauses. By and large, it will continue until a concrete agreement is reached between Moscow and Washington.
Arman Galoyan
