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- "We are seeing the beginning of a complete U.S. withdrawal from the conflict in Ukraine"
"We are seeing the beginning of a complete U.S. withdrawal from the conflict in Ukraine"
The USA will stop supporting Ukraine, ex-CIA analyst Larry Johnson said in an interview with Izvestiya. According to him, Donald Trump has absolutely no respect for Vladimir Zelensky. Now in the States, according to Johnson, an investigation is underway regarding $50 billion that was stolen from US funds and sent to Ukraine. That money was deposited in Caribbean banks and is now being tracked. Meanwhile, the bilateral talks between Russia and the US can be perceived very positively, the expert said. About the venue of the summit between Putin and Trump, the American-European split and the risk of a new assassination attempt on the American leader - in an exclusive interview with Larry Johnson "Izvestia".
"Trump does not respect Zelensky"
- Donald Trump called Vladimir Zelensky a moderately successful comedian, and also accused him of the fact that part of the American aid to Ukraine is simply missing. What do these and other harsh statements by the American president tell us?
- Donald Trump does not respect Zelensky, and it is quite obvious. The US is cutting off its support for Ukraine. Trump does not have warm feelings for him because of the role Zelensky played in his first impeachment. Trump called Zelensky and asked for his help over the Hunter Biden incident. Zelensky then decided to play along with the Democrats. Trump is a vindictive person, he certainly knows how to forgive, but when you cross him, he doesn't forget. When they appeared together with Zelensky, he was quite polite, friendly, but there is really no warmth or genuine friendship in him. We are seeing the beginning of a complete U.S. withdrawal from the conflict in Ukraine.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (at the time) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in New York. September 15, 2024.
On October 31, 2019, the Democrats launched impeachment proceedings. The basis was a phone conversation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July of the same year. During it, Trump allegedly made it clear that he would block the allocation of military aid to Ukraine if Kiev refused to investigate his political opponent in the 2020 election Joe Biden and his son Hunter (the case around the company Burisma) in connection with their activities in Ukraine during the period when Joe Biden was Vice President of the United States.
- What do you personally think about Volodymyr Zelensky?
- He is stupid and commits suicidal acts. He will not stay in power in Ukraine. He should be reasoning now about what to do next and how to save his life. He needs to go somewhere else. He must not stay in Ukraine or he will be killed. If he was counting on the US, after what he said about Donald Trump, he can forget about it. Also, I know that already $50 billion has been identified as stolen from US funds and sent to Ukraine. This money was deposited in Caribbean banks and is now being tracked. If any of this has anything to do with Zelensky, I would not be surprised if Donald Trump seizes any property Zelensky owns in the United States and takes it back as repayment for money stolen from the United States. So Zelensky should have cooperated, but he is too arrogant and stupid.
"No one believed that Russia was losing in this conflict."
- What do you think about the negotiations between Russia and the United States that have started?
- The mood is positive, judging by what has been said by both sides - Marco Rubio on one side and Sergey Lavrov on the other. This is a good sign. At first glance, problems may arise because of the United States' misperception of Russia. Some members of the U.S. delegation think that it is only about ending the confrontation in Ukraine, but in fact, from Russia's point of view, it is about providing real security guarantees. So that Russia will no longer be betrayed or face new threats because of the lies and duplicity of the West.
One of the outcomes of the talks was that they are going to create several subgroups. One group will start discussing strategic security and arms control, another group will start discussing the revision of the global security architecture, a third group will discuss bilateral diplomatic engagement, and a fourth group will discuss energy and sanctions. And finally, a foreign affairs group that will deal with the Middle East and Arctic issues. You know what is missing from this list - conflict resolution in Ukraine. This will probably be the last group. Friendships and personal relations will be formed from this, which is extremely positive. After all, just three or four months ago we were looking at the prospect of nuclear war. This will eventually help to calm the international situation.
Russian and U.S. delegations before the start of bilateral talks on Ukraine at the Royal Family Palace - Diriyah at the Albasateen complex in Riyadh. February 18, 2025
- Where could Putin and Trump summit and continue the talks - in Saudi Arabia or could they move elsewhere, such as Turkey?
- I don't know if they will go to Turkey. I don't think Moscow wants to give Erdogan such a boost. It would raise his international prestige. But given what I would call some of Turkey's betrayals to Russia, particularly the release of the captured Azov prisoners (the battalion is recognized as a terrorist organization, banned in Russia) that they promised not to release, and then their role in overthrowing the government of Bashar al-Assad, I would rule Turkey out. The talks will probably continue in Saudi Arabia for now.
The fact that the presidents are talking in such a warm environment is a very good thing. Despite the positives, Russia has made it clear that there are certain requirements for Ukraine that must be met, such as the withdrawal of the AFU from four Russian regions.
No one believed that Russia was losing in this conflict, that it was suffering or not making much progress. Now that Tulsi Gabbard has become Director of National Intelligence, I hope Trump will have access to accurate briefings that show Russia is doing very well and Ukraine is doing extremely poorly.
"Nazi parties and thugs should not participate in the political life of the country"
- What should Russia and the US start discussing as a priority?
- The key issue is disarming the Ukrainian army so that it becomes defensive and cannot carry out offensive operations. Another element would be holding new elections. It is important that Nazi parties and bandits do not participate in the political life of the country. The third is to define the territory that Ukraine will keep under its control. Russia will not make any territorial concessions. One of the issues in the negotiations will be whether Russia will take control of Odessa. The only thing that could prevent it from taking it is firm security guarantees that the rights of the Russian-speaking population there will be protected. The fourth question could be the punishment of Ukrainian war criminals. And I don't see Russia backing down on this issue.
U.S. Presidential Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg at the 61st Munich International Security Conference. February 15, 2025
- Who do you see as the main negotiator from the American side? Will it be Keith Kellogg?
- I doubt it will be Keith Kellogg. So far he is partially involved. If Kellogg is the lead negotiator from the US on Ukraine, the war will continue. It will not end. Because he is incapable of understanding or accepting Russia's positions, which are non-negotiable. Ukraine must withdraw from all Russian territories and refuse to join NATO. The US, by the way, has sort of pre-empted this by saying that Kiev will not be a member of the alliance. But we need to hear that from the Ukrainian side as well. I think Steve Whitkoff is going to be a very influential person in this process.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the 61st International Munich Security Conference. February 14, 2025.
- Europe's role in resolving the conflict remains unclear. European representatives for the most part continue the confrontational line and show no signs of willingness to dialog...
- Europe is useless. What do they have to offer? They bring no money and represent no real military power. They have no stockpiles of weapons. They can be described as a gang of little toothless dogs. The only thing they can do is bark and make noise. And frankly, that's the message that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent them last week. What do they want to sit at the negotiating table for? In the US, this is called the "kids' table" where all the adults sit at the main table and there is a table for the kids who will misbehave and not participate in the adult conversation. Europeans are sitting at the children's table. Because they are not mature in any sense of the word. And in fact, the U.S. is responsible for allowing this behavior on the European side. It became clear last week that if peace is to come to Ukraine, it will only come through Moscow and Washington working together.
U.S. Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Whitkoff after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Policy Assistant to the President Yuri Ushakov in Riyadh. February 18, 2025
- Will Ukraine or Europe try to thwart Trump's actions? Could they try to derail the peace process and stage provocations?
- Of course they might try, but I don't think they will succeed. It would only further discredit them. Donald Trump, it seems to me, has a particular dislike for Keir Starmer and the United Kingdom. Because British intelligence played a very damaging role in the attacks on Trump during his first term as president, they were heavily implicated in the so-called Russia trail. Trump has never forgotten that. And then Keir Starmer sent his own political activists to the United States, foreigners, to meddle in the presidential election and to act in support of Kamala Harris. I think we are at a point in history where we are seeing a breakdown in the relationship that previously existed between Europe and the US.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meeting in Kiev. January 16, 2025
"This time he came to the gunfight and brought the army with him".
- Trump and his team are likely to have many enemies due to the new US policy. Could someone try to assassinate him again?
- Yes. They have already made two attempts. A third one could happen. Trump is an existential threat to the "deep state". Right now he is doing a pretty good job of dismantling it.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at an investment forum in Miami. February 20, 2025.
- It's been a month since Trump took office as President of the United States. What is your overall assessment of his 30 days in office?
- Look at the contrast. When Trump won in 2016, he didn't expect to win. He didn't even have an organizational plan. He came into office completely unprepared, and he was badly trounced. But in doing so, he generally kept the wars out and improved employment for minorities, especially black Americans. He also boosted the U.S. economy.
In retrospect, the 2020 victory the Democrats stole from him is a boon. Because if Trump had won a second term, he would not have dismantled the "deep state" the way he is now. In the four years he has been in exile and under political attack from the Biden administration and the "deep state," he has had a chance to think, reflect, understand and then draw the proper conclusions.
That's why he started hitting them with so many executive orders, created DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) under the leadership of Ilon Musk. The dismantling of USAID I consider one of the biggest steps. It has been used to stage color revolutions, coups, and destabilization abroad. Trump is now prepared. First he came to the shootings but didn't bring a gun. This time he came to a gunfight and brought an army with him.
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