Who controls the war negotiations: the president, partners or society? Explanation from a political scientist
12 September 2025 16:00
OPINION
Who really controls the negotiation process over the war in Ukraine is a question that is increasingly emerging in public discussion. Political scientist Oleksiy Yakubin believes that the situation is much more complicated than it seems at first glance. In his opinion, we are talking about multilateral interaction, where none of the players act independently.
Obviously, the president influences the negotiation process. But this is not a one-sided process. It requires other players. It takes two to tango, right? And here it takes even more. I didn’t want to say “flamenco,” but I did,” Yakubin said jokingly.
Ukraine demonstrates readiness, but the rhythm is set by all players
The political scientist emphasized that Ukraine demonstrates openness to negotiations, but this is only part of a complex diplomatic structure that also involves other players:
- European partners
- The United States
- Donald Trump
- Russia
This is a mutual game. Ukraine is ready to cooperate. We see that on the other side there is Europe, there is Trump, there is Russia. And each of them influences the course of events,” Yakubin said.
Negotiations have moved forward, but we should not expect quick decisions
According to the political scientist, the topics of negotiations and security guarantees have recently started to move forward. However, it is premature to expect a quick breakthrough.
I’m not a big optimist in terms of quick processes. It can be a protracted process. And it’s better not to set clear dates to avoid disappointment in society,” he explains.
According to Yakubin, the Kremlin is not interested in openly disrupting the negotiation process, but is actively delaying the process, betting on war. At the same time, Moscow is trying to maintain contact with certain players in the West, primarily Donald Trump.
Russia also cannot just jump out of this process. They are dragging their feet, relying on military moments, but they are not severing ties with Trump. They are afraid to be face to face with Xi Jinping,” the expert noted.
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“Ukraine is not the only player in the process that concerns the future of the war. This is a multi-vector game where decisions depend on many parties, including Russia, Europe, the United States, and even China. Yakubin believes that there is movement, but excessive expectations can be dangerous – both for society and for the diplomatic strategy as a whole.
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