Ukraine's frontline under pressure from behind the scenes
Feb 22, 2025
Kiev [Ukraine], February 22: A series of statements by US President Donald Trump in recent days have reached the snow-covered trenches of eastern Ukraine, where soldiers are struggling to cope with waves of attacks from Russian troops.
Committing to ending the war in Ukraine soon, the White House owner is taking steps to promote it, such as organizing a high-level US-Russia dialogue in Saudi Arabia on February 18, as well as making statements that make Ukraine worry that it will have to make concessions on many aspects.
Concerns spread
In a discreet house on the edge of the town of Lyman in Donetsk, just over 10 km from Russian positions, a soldier with the alias Serhii of Ukraine's 115th Mechanized Brigade said "everyone is talking about Mr. Trump's statements."
"I still think there is a chance that the tense period (between the US and Ukraine) will be followed by a calmer period," Foreign Policy quoted the soldier as hoping. Another soldier in the brigade, Oleksandr, said the situation was difficult because many soldiers did not understand the political developments. "The Russians will push and we do not know what Trump wants. Someone has to think about Ukraine because we are running out of manpower," the soldier worried.
Battalion commander Volodymyr Sablyn of the 66th Mechanized Brigade fighting near Lyman said that if peace talks included Russia taking control of some Ukrainian territory, it would have dangerous consequences. "This would set a precedent and show that Russia can attack any country, take control of its territory and make it theirs with impunity," he warned.
Pressure continues
Speaking to reporters at the White House on February 20, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to return to the mineral negotiations with the US. Previously, Mr. Zelensky rejected the US proposal to pay $500 billion in minerals in exchange for continued US aid. After receiving US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg on February 20, President Zelensky pledged to quickly come up with "a strong agreement on investment and security" with the US.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
