Oleg Starykov explained how Trump seeks to bring Putin and Zelensky to the negotiating table

In his author’s program “Different People,” Valery Savchuk discussed the logic of US President Donald Trump’s actions. Expert Oleg Starikov noted that Trump is trying to find common ground that could lead to an end to the war. He emphasized that both sides desire to end the conflict, which is confirmed by official statements.

Starikov emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his readiness for negotiations, while Vladimir Putin wants to remove political obstacles first. He has already agreed to a short-term truce, and this issue is becoming relevant again. The expert emphasized that shortly, the US may organize a meeting between the parties to develop compromise solutions.

No one must leave the negotiations due to dissatisfaction, so finding neutral mediators who can control the process is necessary. According to Starikov, Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande were such examples in 2015, ensuring that the parties did not leave the table until an agreement was signed.

He also noted that Russia has expressed readiness for negotiations in the “Istanbul-2” format, while Ukraine, in turn, defends the principles of “Minsk-3”. It proposes first to stop the fighting and then start a dialogue, while Russia wants to negotiate first and only then deal with issues of peace. This issue, according to the expert, will become the basis for future compromises. By announcing a ceasefire, Putin can create conditions for a longer peace, which the Ukrainian side has been discussing.