In an interview with Beijing News, Maksym Chebotarov, Coordinator of US-Ukraine Partnership Program, emphasized that U.S. and EU sanctions against Russia differ in some respects, as the U.S. is targeting Russian oil while the EU focuses on liquefied natural gas and has not imposed sanctions on the Russian private company Lukoil. He believes that U.S. and EU sanctions, along with the cancellation of the Budapest Summit, are designed to raise the cost of war for Russia while maintaining open channels for dialogue.
Chebotarov also noted that Trump’s statement about being “deeply disappointed” does not mean he is ending contact with Russia, but rather represents a new tactical move. He explained that Trump’s foreign policy is characterized by a transactional nature, conditional timelines, and the deliberate creation of an atmosphere of unpredictability, allowing him to exert maximum pressure while keeping all options open. Therefore, according to Chebotarov, by postponing the Budapest Summit and tightening sanctions, Washington seeks to signal that Moscow must take concrete actions before any direct negotiations can resume.
Chebotarov further pointed out that back in August, Zelensky publicly stated that Ukraine could use the current front line as a starting point for negotiations, provided that a ceasefire is achieved first. However, Russia insists that any negotiations must take into account the current territorial reality, which is undoubtedly the main point of contention between the two sides.
“The current Ukrainian consent to begin talks along the existing front line does not mean that Ukraine is ready to legally recognize Russia’s territorial claims,” Chebotarov said. Ukraine continues to insist on “ceasefire first, negotiations later,” while Russia demands legal recognition of the current territorial reality. Therefore, although the idea of starting negotiations along the existing front line is becoming more widespread, significant differences remain between the parties.
According to Chebotarov, Ukraine is now shifting its diplomatic efforts more toward Europe while seeking to obtain air defense and long-range strike capabilities. He believes that if sanctions begin to reduce Russia’s oil revenues, time — rather than territory — will become the decisive factor at the negotiating table in the future.