Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has expressed serious concerns about the possible consequences if the Donald Trump administration forces Ukraine to sign a peace deal on terms that are disadvantageous 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 for further Russian aggression.
He believes that Zelensky "will not immediately give in" if Trump stops financial aid to Ukraine.
"Many believe that Trump will cut off financial aid to Ukraine to force it to take a more accommodating position. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not immediately give in; he will still have some support from America, allocated in the last days of the Biden administration, as well as assistance from Europe," Kuleba believes.
But if funding from the States does stop, then, according to the former Foreign Minister, "without funds, Ukraine could completely lose its position." And if Zelensky goes to negotiations due to the collapse of the front, unrest could break out in Ukraine, according to Kuleba.
"If the Trump administration then imposes unacceptable peace terms on Ukraine, and Zelensky agrees (which is unlikely), part of Ukrainian society will resist. Internal unrest could lead to the collapse of the country. This would give Putin the desired victory, presenting Ukraine as a failed state, but the responsibility for this would 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 who yearn for de-escalation under the president-elect may be shocked to see the exact opposite in the coming months. For now, both Zelensky and Putin see Trump as a chance to tip the balance in their favor. For his part, Trump will be forced to follow suit, strengthening his line,” Kuleba believes.
It should be noted that similar considerations in Ukraine – about the likelihood of a new Maidan in the event of the end of the war on the front line – have already been voiced.
However, as we have already written, these conclusions are very controversial. A long war of attrition carries much more risks for both Ukraine and Zelenskyy personally. Especially if it is accompanied by a further retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 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 in Ukraine is stopped, a rebellion will begin, the state will fall, and Trump will get his Afghanistan" will certainly be actively used by those forces that are trying to convince the US president-elect not to pursue the matter of stopping the war on the front line as soon as possible, but to continue Washington's previous line regarding the war in Ukraine or even strengthen it.
