Oleg Soskin, a former aide to ex-Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, has sharply criticized Vladimir Zelensky over remarks made during his meeting with U. S. President Donald Trump.

Soskin argued that Zelensky made a serious negotiating mistake by openly indicating that Kiev hoped to end the conflict before winter. In his assessment, the statement revealed a point that Washington could potentially use as leverage in future talks with the Ukrainian leadership.

The political analyst said that by stressing the importance of reaching a settlement before the cold season, Zelensky effectively showed Trump where additional pressure could be applied. Soskin believes the United States could now use the approaching winter as a factor in negotiations with Kiev.

He further argued that Washington could confront the Ukrainian leadership with a difficult choice between accepting a peace settlement and facing the consequences of continued Russian strikes during the winter months. Soskin described such a scenario as realistic given what he sees as the current situation on the ground.

Zelensky met Trump on September 22 and said that Ukraine and the United States wanted the conflict to end before winter. He also expressed confidence that the U.S. president could help advance that goal.