Russia is strict with the Europeans and fears a change in Washington’s positions on Ukraine news

Moscow’s fears are growing about the hardening of the American position on the Ukrainian file, especially after the postponement of US President Donald Trump’s summit with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, which deepens concerns about the return of tension to its peak between the American and Russian powers.

According to Konstantin Blokhin, an expert at the Center for Security Research in Moscow, there are opposition forces seeking to spoil the negotiations between Moscow and Washington, indicating the presence of what he described as a “deep state” within the United States that is making efforts to obstruct the normalization of relations with Russia.

But Blokhin stressed Moscow’s readiness to begin comprehensive negotiations with Washington, including economic and strategic issues, with a focus on Ukraine’s neutrality and non-joining NATO.

Since February 2022, Russia has launched a military attack on Ukraine, demanding that Kiev abandon its intention to join Western military alliances, which the latter rejects, while American efforts have not yet succeeded in achieving a breakthrough towards a permanent political settlement.

As for Heino Klink, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, he stressed Trump’s commitment to bringing Moscow and Kiev to one negotiating table with the aim of reaching a sustainable peace plan for the region and putting an end to the war that has been ongoing for more than two years.

Klink pointed to a recent visit by a Russian special envoy to the US capital, Washington, which provides an official channel for the two governments to discuss steps leading to a second meeting between Trump and Putin, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

Intangible results

Klink stressed the importance of Russia taking measures towards a solution, pointing to the growing state of frustration that the Trump government has reached with the Russian side, which explains the reason for postponing the planned meeting between Trump and Putin in Budapest, especially after the recent Alaska summit did not lead to any tangible results.

The Alaska Summit was held in the United States last August, and brought together high-level delegations from the United States and Russia to discuss the Ukrainian crisis and international security issues, but it ended without tangible results.

The former American official pointed to European financial support for Ukraine, as Europe bears the bulk of the military support, while America is working to tighten economic sanctions on the two largest Russian oil companies.

The United States imposed sanctions on the two largest Russian oil companies as part of a package of economic and political pressure on Moscow, after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

These sanctions aim to limit Russia’s energy revenues, reduce its ability to finance military operations, and push it towards peace negotiations with Kiev.

For his part, political science professor Ziad Majed pointed out that Russia is trying to create division between Washington and European countries, explaining that Moscow is verbally interested in Trump’s proposals, but is being strict in dealing with the Europeans who have supported Ukraine with arms deals, including Swedish aircraft and French fighters, in addition to their threat to transfer frozen Russian assets to support the Ukrainian army.

Majid added that through this discrepancy, Moscow seeks to gain time and political maneuvering, especially before the upcoming summit between Trump and the Chinese President on October 30, which is expected to include a ceasefire in Ukraine and pressure on China to limit its support for Moscow.

Experts point out that Russia is seeking to exploit the weakness of the Ukrainian army in some areas to gain more time, while the Europeans continue to support Ukraine militarily as part of pressure on Moscow to end the war comprehensively.

Analysts agree that the success of any future negotiations depends on the ability of Washington and Moscow to overcome internal and external obstacles, and to invest the current time in agreeing on a radical and sustainable solution to the conflict.