War settlement hinges on U.S. willingness to apply sustained pressure on Russia – expert

This was stated in a comment to Ukrinform by Tinatin Akhvlediani, a Research Fellow in the EU Foreign Policy Unit at the Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels.

“President Trump’s position on Russia needs to be assessed with caution,” the expert said, commenting on the latest decisive actions by the United States, including the interception in the Atlantic of a Russian-flagged tanker.

In her view, the decisive factor will be whether the United States is “willing to apply sustained political and economic pressure” on Putin to compel him to commit to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

“Any credible settlement will depend on Washington’s readiness to use its leverage – not on episodic displays of toughness that may or may not translate into concrete policy,” Akhvlediani concluded.

The expert also emphasized that citizens of EU member states need to be transparently informed about the importance of Ukraine’s victory in the war for preserving peace across the entire continent.

“The key prerequisite (for the success of national debates on sending European troops to Ukraine – ed.) is securing broad public support. Citizens across Europe must clearly understand what is at stake – not only for Ukraine, but for the peace and security of the entire European continent,” she said.

According to Akhvlediani, this requires transparent communication from political leaders about the cost of inaction and the risks associated with the success of Russian aggression.

“Europe cannot afford to lose this war in Ukraine,” the expert stressed. “Framing the debate in those terms is essential. When citizens recognize that Ukraine’s security is directly linked to Europe’s own stability, governments will have greater political space to act decisively.”

Strong public support ultimately enables member states to move faster, coordinate their efforts more effectively, and make difficult but necessary decisions, the CEPS expert believes.

As reported by Ukrinform, following the meeting in Paris, the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, Ukraine, and the United States signed a statement titled “Robust Security Guarantees for a Solid and Lasting Peace in Ukraine.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that during the Paris meeting, the Coalition of the Willing, together with the United States, confirmed its readiness to make a substantial contribution to security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement.

Photo provided by the expert