Photo: US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin (Getty Images) Author: Maria Kucheryavets
Expert: Alexander Musienko
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will not stop missile attacks on Ukraine during talks with US leader Donald Trump. The aggressor's strikes will continue until a ceasefire is established.
This was stated in a commentary to RBC-Ukraine by a serviceman of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military expert Alexander Musienko.
Russia's Strikes on Ukraine and What Trump Says About It
The last time Russian troops carried out a massive missile attack on Ukraine was on March 7. Then the enemy used Kh-101 missiles from Tu-95MS, guided air missiles, ballistics, Kalibr missiles and attack drones. A total of 261 air attack vehicles, some of which were shot down. However, there were also hits, in particular, on the gas transportation network.
However, the attack came at a time when the United States was temporarily suspending military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a December 28 Oval Office spat between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump.
But subsequently the US resumed arms supplies to Ukraine. This happened after the Ukrainian side, during negotiations with the American delegation in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), agreed to a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire in the war with the Russian Federation. However, on the condition that Russia would also take such a step.
Now, as Western politicians say, “the ball is in Putin's court.” The Russian dictator has not yet shown any clear readiness for a complete ceasefire. The head of the Kremlin says that Russia agrees with the proposal put forward by the United States, but “there are nuances.”
However, Trump is still trying to secure Putin's support for the American proposal for a 30-day truce, in particular evidence of this is today's telephone conversation with Putin, after which, as head of the White House, he will make “some statements” with the dictator on establishing a truce in Ukraine, both on land, at sea and in the air.
However, it is noteworthy that even during his active diplomacy aimed at establishing peace in Ukraine, Trump has not condemned in any way the Russian shelling of Ukraine, which is aimed at the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. In particular, the one that occurred on March 7.
The head of the White House believes that Putin is interested in ending the war, despite the latest shelling of Ukraine. And when the transfer of intelligence and military aid to Kyiv from Washington was “on hold,” the US president was asked whether he thought the dictator was using this to strike Ukraine. To which Trump responded that Putin was “doing what anyone else would do in this situation.”
However, unofficial reports suggest that Trump was nonetheless furious over Russia's actions, particularly its latest massive Russian strike on Ukraine.
An unnamed senior White House official told Axios that Trump's “rage has increased” and that Russia's behavior and continued strikes on Ukraine at the very time the US president was pushing for a ceasefire were the reason.
This media report appeared against the backdrop of Trump's post on the Truth Social social network, in which he threatens Russia with sanctions and tariffs.
“Given that Russia is now simply 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield, I am strongly considering the possibility of imposing large-scale banking sanctions, sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire is reached and a final peace agreement is reached,” the US president wrote on his social network.
Will Putin Stop Shelling Ukraine by Negotiating with Trump?
However, the question remains whether negotiations with Trump will stop Putin from launching massive missile strikes.
According to the serviceman of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military expert Alexander Musienko, the Russian Federation will not stop drone and missile strikes during negotiations and will continue attacks until a ceasefire is established, which is really possible.
“Because until the ceasefire comes into effect, if it does, Putin will use all opportunities to put pressure on Ukraine. Considering that Trump himself very rarely comments on this, or comments in the context that “these strikes must be stopped,” without naming Russia as guilty, Putin may perceive this as a “sign” that he can continue to strike,” Musienko said in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
The expert noted that even in conditions when the Russian Federation is conducting negotiations with Trump, and when Ukraine has made an initiative for a ceasefire in the sky and at sea, the aggressor responded with shelling.
“The Russian Federation is currently continuing to strike with drones, sometimes missiles, at our critical infrastructure facilities, in particular energy and gas production facilities. And in fact, this is the Kremlin's usual way of pressuring Ukraine. They are simply seeking greater destruction, pressure, so that Ukraine would be more inclined to compromise,” Musienko noted.
When asked whether Putin would listen to the American president if he called for not launching strikes deep into Ukraine, the expert replied that he does not think that Trump would today put forward the condition of refraining from air strikes alone.
“Because it would be somewhat of a departure from the US concept that there should be an unconditional ceasefire: on land, at sea, in the sky. If we talk only about air strikes, then it would be a departure from the same proposals that the US voiced. Therefore, I think that the concept is this: either a comprehensive ceasefire, or at this stage there will most likely be no exceptions, ” Musienko believes.
The expert also answered whether the Russian Federation is ready to launch a new massive missile attack on Ukraine. According to him, the Russian army is preparing, enemy aircraft are flying, reconnaissance is being conducted, which is being recorded by Ukraine and its partners.
“The Russians are preparing. In principle, in order to conduct minimal preparation, to stockpile missiles, they need between two weeks and a month between such (massive – ed.) attacks. And of course, now we see that the enemy is preparing to be able to carry out such strikes ,” Musienko concluded.
Let us recall that today US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone. Read about the first details of their telephone conversation in a separate article by RBC-Ukraine.
Read urgent and important news about Russia's war against Ukraine on the RBC-Ukraine channel in Telegram .