Russian Official Expresses Skepticism Over Ukraine Conflict Resolution Under Trump
Alexei Drobinin, the Director of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning at the Russian Foreign Ministry, spoke with Hungarian journalist Gábor Stier about the chances of resolving the Ukraine conflict under US President Donald Trump and the role of a new European security architecture.
When asked about the chances of ending the war in Ukraine under Trump, Drobinin said that as a representative of the Foreign Ministry, he, like Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov, would wait and see how Trump’s presidency unfolds.
While acknowledging that campaign statements have their own significance, Drobinin emphasized that they are different from actions taken from the presidency. He expressed skepticism about the chances of a deal, citing the long-standing bipartisan consensus in the US on the issue.
As an analyst, Drobinin sees “little chance for an agreement, as what we’re hearing now is quite far from Russia’s goals.” He also highlighted the lack of optimism in the past, citing the Republican Party’s tendency to resolve conflicts through force, which Trump’s team seems to favor.
New European Security Architecture as a Basis for Conflict Resolution
When asked if the Ukraine conflict could be resolved without rethinking the European security architecture, Drobinin pointed out that the concept of European security is built on the euroatlantic model, with NATO at its center. However, with the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, questions arose about the need for NATO and its potential expansion eastward.
Drobinin believes that the current model is “not sustainable” and that the OSCE documents, which state that security is indivisible, need to be reevaluated. He emphasized that Russia’s proposal to legally confirm the principle of indivisible security was met with the response that security is only indivisible within NATO, not extending to countries outside the organization.
According to Drobinin, the new security architecture should be open to all countries and regional organizations in Eurasia, including Europe. He warned that NATO’s actions, such as the deployment of long-range missiles, put their own security at risk in the event of a conflict with Russia.
The official also criticized the proposal by German politician Friedrich Merz to supply Ukraine with Mars launchers, saying it would be a self-destructive act and threatening the security of Germany itself.
In conclusion, Drobinin praised the responsible approach of some European countries, such as Slovakia and Hungary, which prioritize the security of their own nations, as opposed to the irresponsible actions of some NATO leaders.