INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
President Vladimir Putin will look for to drag out talks on ending his nations war on Ukraine for as long as possible as he believes he
currently has the upper hand in the dispute, United States professionals informed The Moscow Times ahead of Tuesdaysexpected call in
between Putin and United States equivalent Donald Trump.As the Trump administration cuts the portfolio of its Russia-Ukraine special envoy
while pursuing a peace deal in Ukraine, specialists concurred that a delay in any contract would be valuable to Putin, who is set to benefit
from more territorial gains.Putins aim is to take efficient political control of Ukraine
He cant do this if his control is supported from where he is on the ground, said John Herbst, a former United States ambassador to Ukraine
and a senior director at the Atlantic Council.Preventing Putin from taking control of Ukraine is vital for American interests, Herbst told
The Moscow Times.Putin most likely thinks he can coax Trump into forming an offer he views as beneficial if he manages Washingtons proposed
30-day ceasefire correctly, Herbst added, encouraging Trump to drop elements of any longer-term arrangement that the Kremlin finds
unacceptable.Putin has actually made strategic mistakes, however he is proficient at checking out individuals and controling them, Herbst
said.Any ceasefire will require time to establish considering that Putin is not excited to reach a contract, said Maria Snegovaya, a senior
fellow on Russia and Eurasia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Even if there is a freeze, the war will not end
Many individuals think it wont end as long as Putin is in power, stated Snegovaya.Moscow is currently in a stronger position than Kyiv and
successfully reclaiming Ukrainian-held area in Russias Kursk region, although at a lethal expense, she stated
The time out in United States intelligence sharing was damaging to Ukraine.The United States is using a blended carrot-and-stick method
Trumps job resembles herding felines with Ukraine and Russia
He wants to use pressure on all sides, Snegovaya said.For example, the Trump administration this month enabled the lapse of General License
8L, which had allowed Russian banks to use the United States payment system for energy deals, set up to prevent a spike in oil
prices.Delivery of United States military help to Kyiv.United States Embassy Kyiv UkraineIn addition, the United States is expected to
resume delivering Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to Ukraine after Trump consented to resume supplying military aid and
intelligence sharing with Kyiv following talks in Saudi Arabia on March 11
According to Herbst, Putin is testing the tactics he honed at the KGB on a United States president he understands is mercurial
These strategies consist of praising a ceasefire proposal as a principle and applauding the concepts author as genius, while at the exact
same time explaining a couple of issues with any proposed agreement.At the exact same time, Putin is worried about crossing Trump after
having actually experienced the United States presidents anger with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at their current Oval Office
conference, Herbst said.The possibility of ending up being a partner of the United States rather than of China, which has actually been a
vital financial lifeline for Russia amidst punishing Western sanctions, is a most likely reward for Putin, he said.Chinese reporters and
historians discuss Vladivostok as a Chinese city, Herbst said.A recent survey by the independent Levada Center survey stated that almost
one-third of Russians view the United States positively, approximately double the share from before Trump took office in January.Putins
aggression in Ukraine has actually taken a dreadful toll on Russian success, security and well-being, said Herbst
Lots of people in Russia understand the cost of this war.Though Russias economy has largely withstood Western financial sanctions enforced
in response to the war, the Kremlins shift to a wartime economy has increased the threat of stagflation
Numerous industries have actually experienced development due to federal government financial investment, including via outsized payments to
soldiers who agreed to join the military, Snegovaya said.Historically, the propensity of Russian society is to acquiesce
Surveys show that individuals are not excited about the war, however have actually accepted it
People tend to get used to whatever the Kremlin is doing
Its all due to efficient crisis management
Its like when it rains: People do not like it, however you installed an umbrella, said Snegovaya.Trumps unique envoy to Ukraine and Russia,
retired General Keith Kellogg, was notably absent from current high-level talks about ending the war in Ukraine
Media reports said that Kellogg was sidelined from talks after the Kremlin Kelloggs participation in negotiations, stating he was too
On Saturday, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Kellogg had been appointed unique envoy to Ukraine appearing to confirm the
downgrade from his preliminary consultation as unique envoy for Ukraine and Russia.Meanwhile, property billionaire and Trump good friend
Steve Witkoff technically Trumps Middle East envoy has actually handled the role of the presidents personal envoy to Putin
Witkoff has fulfilled twice with Putin, consisting of last week in Moscow and in February as part of negotiations that freed American
