Radar Armenia‘s interlocutor is international affairs expert Shahan Gandaharian.
– During a phone conversation between the Russian and US presidents, an agreement was reached to organize a Putin-Trump meeting. It has already been announced that it will take place in Budapest. What expectations can be had from that meeting?
– We should not have high expectations. A turning point is not yet in sight. The fact that the diplomatic path is kept open and that negotiations are conducted on behalf of Ukraine is emphasized in this way. The United States also chose the Budapest platform. Although Hungary had previously expressed its willingness to mediate in these negotiations, its role in this process is limited. At the same time, Hungary is assigned a specific role in shaping a new European security architecture. The role of Eastern Europe is being redefined, and in this regard, Hungary is apparently viewed as an essential node.
– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that the threat of Tomahawk cruise missiles prompted Moscow to negotiate. Is that true, or is this just a propaganda statement? In that case, what is the reason for agreeing to the meeting?
– Sending Tomahawk missiles, but at the same time negotiating – this is the whole philosophy of American policy during this war. Threatening and negotiating go hand in hand. Ukraine cannot decide on the use of these missiles on its own. The United States clearly demonstrates that it is both the negotiator and the one who controls the course of the war. Russia has understood this reality very well.
– How do you think the issue of supplying these cruise missiles will be resolved? Will Ukraine receive them, and will it use them against Russia?
– To send or not to send, to use or not to use – this is a matter of trade and political calculations, a card in the hands of the United States.
– Do you see any prospects for ending the Russian-Ukrainian conflict at this time?
– As for ending the war, I don’t see any such prospects at this time. There are still serious problems in the US-Russian line that need to be resolved. The ups and downs of this war, as well as a possible ceasefire, are closely related to these circumstances.
