The Times: Putin seeks to negotiate with Trump on Ukraine bypassing Zelensky.

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to use a complex diplomatic strategy regarding the USA to conclude an unfavorable deal for Ukraine. This was reported by the British publication The Times, which analyzed possible geopolitical changes following Donald Trump's return to the presidency.

The publication notes that the Kremlin is very interested in the presidential elections in the USA and hopes for a favorable scenario for itself. Putin has already sent greetings to Trump, where he expressed his desire to prevent World War III. The Russian leader intends to reach an agreement at the expense of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

'Putin even stated that if Trump's victory in the 2020 elections had not been stolen, there might not have been a war in Ukraine,' the source quotes The Times.

Putin is trying to revive a diplomatic model similar to the Yalta Conference of 1945, when world leaders divided the geopolitical space among themselves.

However, the situation is not straightforward. The Times notes that despite the Kremlin's expectations, Trump has increased pressure on Russia and warned of possible consequences if negotiations are refused. There are supporters of Ukraine in Trump's inner circle who actively support the interests of Zelensky.

The publication emphasizes the importance of personal relationships between world leaders. The history of their previous meetings, notably the famous Helsinki meeting in 2018, where Trump supported Putin against his own intelligence services, adds intrigue to future negotiations.

Experts at The Times believe that Ukraine's fate will largely depend on who will be able to set the agenda for Trump and how personal relationships between Putin, Trump, and Zelensky will develop.

Earlier, Trump's special envoy Kellogg spoke about a plan to end the war in Ukraine within 100 days.