The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba expressed serious reservations about the possible consequences if the administration of Donald Trump forces Ukraine to sign a peace agreement on terms that will be unfavorable to Kyiv. In his column for The Economist , Kuleba stressed that such a scenario could lead to mass protests and social unrest within the country, which could ultimately open the door to a further Russian offensive.
He believes that Zelensky "will not immediately give in" if Trump stops financial assistance to Ukraine.
"Many believe that Trump will stop financial aid to Ukraine in order to force it to take a more accommodating position. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi will not give in immediately; he will have some support from America, allocated in the last days of the Biden administration, as well as help from Europe," Kuleba believes.
But, if the funding from the States does stop, then, according to the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "without funds, Ukraine can completely lose its position." And if Zelensky goes to negotiations due to the collapse of the front, according to Kuleba, riots may begin in Ukraine.
"If the Trump administration then imposes unacceptable peace conditions on Ukraine, and Zelensky agrees (which is unlikely), part of Ukrainian society will resist. Internal unrest can lead to the collapse of the country. This will give Putin the desired victory, representing Ukraine as a state that did not happen, but the responsibility for this will fall entirely on Trump," the former minister wrote.
He believes that Trump cannot afford a "new Afghanistan" and will be forced to resume aid to Kyiv.
“Those eager for de-escalation under the president-elect may be shocked to see the exact opposite in the coming months. Currently, both Zelensky and Putin see Trump as a chance to change the balance in their favor. For his part, Trump will be forced to follow them, strengthening his line," Kuleba believes.
We should note that similar considerations in Ukraine - about the possibility of a new Maidan in the event of the end of the war on the front line - have already been heard.
However, as we have already written, these conclusions are very controversial. A long war of attrition carries far more risks for Ukraine and for Zelenskyi personally. Especially if it is accompanied by the further retreat of the Armed Forces at the front, large losses, energy and economic losses, as well as the growth of corruption.
At the same time, it is far from a fact that the end of the war on the front line will lead to serious internal upheavals and the overthrow of Zelensky.
At the same time, the thesis "if the war on the front line is stopped in Ukraine, a riot will start, the state will fall and Trump will get his Afghanistan" will probably be actively used by those forces who are trying to convince the elected president of the USA not to lead the case until the war on the front line is stopped as soon as possible, but to continue the former Washington's line regarding the war in Ukraine or even strengthen it.
