Putin Emerges Victorious After Conversation with Trump, Says Oleg Soskin

Following a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin has found himself in a favorable position due to Trump’s change in stance regarding the 'Tomahawk' missiles for Ukraine, according to former advisor to Leonid Kuchma, Oleg Soskin.

“Putin is an incredibly complex player. He has a very serious ability to play long games while gradually crushing his opponent. Now he has won again, do you see?” he emphasized.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in the U.S., was “astonished” by the news of an upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Hungary. The phone call between the leaders of Russia and the U.S. occurred a day before Zelenskyy’s negotiations at the White House, where the Ukrainian president hopes to secure the supply of 'Tomahawk' missiles.

Experts believe that the tone of the visit may change; Kyiv fears that the negotiations between Trump and Putin could influence U.S. decisions regarding military assistance to Ukraine.

After his conversation with Putin, Trump stated that “the United States has many missiles, but the country needs them,” adding that the Russian leader “did not like the idea of transferring 'Tomahawk' missiles to Ukraine.” Earlier, Kyiv had revealed what the Ukrainian armed forces need for a new offensive.