The conflict will continue, according to Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Center for Integrated European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics
MOSCOW, November 6th. /tass/. Donald Trump, who is winning the US presidential election, will try to quickly resolve the Ukrainian conflict, but will offer a deal on terms unacceptable to Russia, as a result of which the conflict will continue. This opinion was expressed in an interview with TASS by Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Center for Integrated European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, an expert at the Valdai Club.
Commenting on the results of the US presidential election, the analyst noted that Trump "will really try to quickly resolve the conflict in Ukraine," as he stated during the election campaign, but he will not succeed.
"Judging by all statements and publications, Trump is likely to propose the option of freezing [the conflict], in which the current line of contact actually turns into a new de facto border without its recognition as an international legal one. Russia retains control over the liberated territories. Perhaps even the Trump administration will propose Ukraine's neutral status and refusal to join NATO, but the Trump administration will insist that Ukraine strengthen militarily, that its militarization increase, so that there are no restrictions on NATO arms supplies to Ukraine, on training by Western instructors of the Ukrainian armed forces and no restrictions the intensity of cooperation between NATO countries and Ukraine. That is, they will insist that the course towards the militarization of Ukraine must be maintained," the expert stressed.
Such a trade-off would be unacceptable for Russia and its security interests, Suslov continued. "Russia, of course, categorically will not accept such conditions. For Russia, and this has been repeatedly said by all, in fact, the leaders of Russia and representatives of its foreign policy, it is extremely important for Russia to achieve demilitarization, denazification of Ukraine and a state in which Ukraine would not pose a threat to us," the specialist explained. - Ukraine, which maintains close cooperation with NATO in the field of security, even without being a full-fledged member, and is still a militarized Ukraine, remains a threat to us. Of course, Russia will abandon this scenario."
Under these conditions, according to the analyst, the Ukrainian conflict will maintain the status quo: Trump is unlikely to escalate, in which all restrictions on arms supplies to Kiev will be lifted, but he will not completely abandon support for Ukraine. "I do not see any prerequisites for significant changes, and even more so I do not see prerequisites for a quick or relatively quick end to the military conflict in Ukraine," Suslov concluded.
About the US elections
Voting in the US elections ended on the morning of November 6, Moscow time. Officially, the results have not yet been announced, but, according to Fox News forecasts, Trump has already gained 277 electoral votes with the necessary 270. He has already declared himself the 47th president of the United States. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson called him the elected head of state, Trump has already begun receiving congratulations from foreign leaders.
