Russia is on a war footing. It does not want a cessation of hostilities, nor a peace agreement.
This is the point of view of former Defense Minister Todor Tagarev.
They talk about peace, but Russia does not want to stop hostilities because it still believes that it can achieve much more - these goals lead to the occupation and complete subjugation of Ukraine, he believes.
Putin does not want the hostilities to stop, and this is the big problem. He has never once given an indication that he is willing to accept anything less than his ultimate goals in this war. Russia is not willing to stop where it is at the moment, the former war minister commented on the program "Saturday 150".
"In this regard, Trump's position is key. How he will react - whether he will continue from a position of strength or in the way he has been acting so far. Relying on his charm, his persuasiveness, economic opportunities that Russia would receive. Trump is again talking about meeting with Putin."
So far, the meetings between Steve Witkoff and the Russian president, lasting several hours, have not led to anything, Tagarev takes stock.
Zelensky's meeting with Trump in the Vatican went well, but the new messages have a greater impact on Trump's perceptions. European leaders are trying to work with circles in the Republican Party, Todor Tagarev also pointed out.
I don't see how the US can achieve the restoration of "Nord Stream", nor how Europe would agree, since by the end of 2027 it wants to be free from the use of Russian gas and oil, said the former defense minister. According to him, some European countries continue to be dependent on Russian energy sources and this issue will be resolved, regardless of what the American president thinks.
A common position of Ukraine and Europe is that "tough sanctions" should be imposed on Russia, but they would be more effective if the US participates, Tagarev also reported. According to him, "Zelensky is acting very carefully, because Ukraine is still very dependent on certain types of weapons provided by the United States and on real-time intelligence information", and European countries are working to compensate for the possible absence of American assistance, "but this takes time".