The Kremlin is attempting to persuade Trump to accept Putin's demands regarding Ukraine, according to ISW.

The Kremlin is attempting to persuade Trump to agree to Putin's demands regarding Ukraine, according to ISW

The Kremlin is making efforts to compel U.S. President Donald Trump to accept the demands of Russian dictator Putin concerning Ukraine.

In a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), analysts highlighted a published interview from a leading Russian media outlet with Fyodor Lukyanov, the scientific director of the Valdai Discussion Club, titled "Don't Expect Big Agreements." The interview outlines internal and global expectations regarding the future negotiations between Putin and Trump.

Analysts explained that formally, the Valdai Club serves as a platform where Kremlin propagandists, Russian and foreign scholars, and officials discuss international issues, but in reality, the Kremlin consistently uses it to influence the West.

Regarding Lukyanov's identity, analysts mentioned that he is considered a person of Putin and is regarded as an "authoritative expert" on Russia's foreign policy goals, despite not holding any official position in the government.

ISW noted that "Lukyanov's statements in this interview align with Putin's declarations about future positions in negotiations" regarding the end of the war in Ukraine.

The Institute pointed out that during the interview, Lukyanov stated that the "main" focus for future peace negotiations regarding Ukraine is not "territories," but rather the elimination of the "root causes" of the war, which he identified as NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe.

Concerning Ukrainian territories, Russian forces currently believe that "you take as much as you can," indicating that the Kremlin will not return occupied lands to Ukraine during future peace talks.

"Lukyanov's interview supports the ongoing efforts of the Kremlin to make Trump agree to Putin's demands, which equate to the complete capitulation of Ukraine and the weakening of NATO, as well as Putin's personal efforts to position himself as Trump's equal on the international stage," analysts concluded.