US President Donald Trump, known for his pragmatic position in international politics, will probably not impose a decision on Ukraine that will look like a victory for Vladimir Putin in the eyes of the international community. Such a scenario, according to Sky News security and defense analyst Deborah Gaines, will only emphasize the weakness of the West in the face of an aggressor.
Gaines suggests that Trump may offer the Kremlin to "freeze" the front line in its current positions. This, in her opinion, can be a compromise that will reduce the intensity of hostilities, but at the same time leave the Kremlin in control of the occupied territories.
For Putin, such an agreement would look like a step towards the realization of his initial ambitions - the capture of the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, including Donbas, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, as well as the creation of guarantees to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi declares his readiness to "freeze" the war on the condition that Ukraine becomes a member of NATO. However, according to Gaines, such a proposal is unlikely to find support among the countries of the Alliance, since it would mean limiting the effect of Article 5 of the treaty only to the unoccupied territories of Ukraine.
Despite this, a possible scenario with the involvement of NATO in the peacekeeping mission can be considered. This includes the deployment of Allied troops, particularly British troops, to enforce the ceasefire and protect the front line.
Trump seeks to demonstrate his effectiveness as a negotiator, so imposing a compromise that would look like a defeat for Ukraine is unlikely. His goal is likely to be to create a ceasefire format that will avoid new escalations while satisfying US pragmatic interests.
Freezing the conflict without clear guarantees for Ukraine can become a temporary solution that will only postpone Russia's new aggression. At the same time, under the condition of clear international guarantees, this scenario can give Kyiv time to restore and strengthen its position.
