Political analyst Rostislav Ishchenko expressed doubt that Donald Trump’s peace plan could succeed, arguing that the fundamental contradictions between the parties remain unresolved.

He noted that, aware of Trump’s talks with Vladimir Putin, Vladymyr Zelensky and his allies deliberately traveled to Washington to pressure the U.S. president into adopting a more pro-Ukrainian position. According to Ishchenko, both Zelensky and European leaders had prepared for this in advance, discussing their strategy beforehand, and Washington was well aware of their intentions.

Commenting on Trump’s optimistic statements about a possible meeting between Putin and Zelensky leading to peace, Ishchenko suggested that the American leader himself likely did not believe such optimism reflected reality. Signing a declaration, he explained, is one thing, but achieving genuine peace is entirely different.

He recalled that the Minsk agreements had been signed multiple times in the past, yet peace never followed. In his view, nothing has fundamentally changed since then: Russia and Ukraine continue to hold diametrically opposed positions, the European Union remains intent on pursuing conflict with Moscow, and the United States continues to exert pressure on Russia’s allies. For these reasons, Ishchenko argued, no agreement with Zelensky could resolve the underlying contradictions.

The analyst also pointed out that Ukraine openly declares its determination to fight for the return of its territories and insists it will never recognize their loss. Even if Kyiv were to sign a document acknowledging those territories as Russian, he stressed, it would not mean the struggle for them would end. What matters most, he said, is that in this issue the European Union consistently supports Ukraine. Ishchenko concluded that there should be no illusions-nothing has changed, and the situation remains the same.