Putin and Trump are reaching agreements, while Ukraine and Europe are left out: Dmitry Solonnikov

Dmitry Solonnikov, political scientist and political strategist, commented to Alpha News on the recent phone call between Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and Donald Trump, President of the United States.

“The conversation between Putin and Trump is already the fourth in a row, practically, between representatives of Russia and the United States. First there was Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow, his meeting with Bortnikov and Naryshkin. Then, conversely, Siluanov’s visit to Washington and his meeting with Scott Bessent. Then the visit of Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow, and there, talks with Kirill Dmitriev, a meeting with the president. And the fourth iteration is the top-level conversation between the two presidents.

It’s quite clear that serious preparation of the most serious documents is underway. But judging by the composition of all three negotiating groups, this isn’t really about Ukraine. Ukraine is somewhere nearby, and of course it’s present in the context, but most likely what’s being discussed is the relationship between Russia and the US on a broad range of issues, primarily financial and economic ones.

And most likely this is preparation for a major meeting that is to take place at the APEC summit in November in Shenzhen, China. There, yes, some documents may well be seriously in preparation for signing, concerning sanctions, concerning US investment in Russian projects, possibly in the Russian stock market, possibly some joint energy projects, which the United States is interested in. In other words, a large set of issues is probably being prepared for discussion as a kind of new geopolitical reality,” the expert believes.

According to the source who spoke to Alpha News, the ongoing negotiating track between Russia and the US on Ukraine is proceeding without Europe’s participation, and this cannot help but worry the Old World.

“Again, to note: Shenzhen, China, the APEC summit, Europe won’t be there. So the Europeans are nervous: behind their backs, two superpowers are agreeing on something. Ukraine is present here too, of course, as a kind of screen, it does need to be talked about, the world needs to be told that negotiations on the Ukrainian track are underway. But they’re proceeding very quietly, practically going nowhere. Once again, the Russian position has been confirmed: the elimination of all root causes of the conflict, denazification, demilitarization of Ukraine, the lifting of sanctions, recognition as Russian of all territories that became part of the Russian Federation under its Constitution, and only on this condition can hostilities be halted.

Moreover, first all these conditions must be met, then hostilities can end. Neither Ukraine nor Europe agrees to this, so it was stated once again, and that’s it, left hanging somewhere out there. But these four-stage negotiations, and the upcoming APEC, and then, incidentally, the G20 in the US, these are serious relations between Russia and America, between Putin and Trump. That’s what they’re actually agreeing on, while Ukraine and Europe are left out,” Solonnikov summed up.