"There Are Two Ways To Get The Kremlin To Stop The War"

Trump has more leverage than economic sanctions.

US President Donald Trump has said he intends to significantly shorten the deadline given to Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. The 50 days has turned into 10-12 and is tentatively set to expire on August 8-9. How will Putin react to the new, tougher White House ultimatum? Probably, like last time, nothing. But in fact, Trump has more leverage over Putin than economic sanctions.

He could negotiate with China to stop supporting Russia. If that happens, the Kremlin would also lose support from the DPRK. Accordingly, it will be extremely difficult for Russia to wage a war of aggression. In addition, it is quite possible to realize the scenario of a change of power in Russia. Of course, this task is extremely difficult and requires long preparation. But it can be solved by the combined efforts of the United States, Europe, Ukraine and the Russian opposition.

This opinion in an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA was expressed by Russian opposition activist Olga Kurnosova.

- The first question is about what will happen after the 10-12 days that Trump said will pass. We're talking tentatively about August 8-9. Do you think that will really have a major impact on Putin's position, particularly his rhetoric and his actions in general? In your opinion, how big an impact is this new ultimatum likely to have on Putin?"

- In my opinion, it's unlikely to have any impact on Putin. Because we heard when Trump proclaimed his ultimatum about 50 days, nothing happened. I would like to see some action, of course. It seems to me that it would be possible not to reduce the deadline to 10-15 days at all, but to already introduce all the relevant sanctions.

- Note that so far we are talking only and purely about economic sanctions, in particular, about 100 percent secondary tariffs, about strengthening restrictions on third countries and so on. But we can already see that these threats of economic sanctions don't seem to be working too well. In your opinion, what kind of ultimatums from Washington would work better?"

- I remember Trump talking about how he once told Putin that if he attacked Ukraine, he would hit Moscow. I guess that ultimatum would have worked then. To what extent can this kind of ultimatum work now? It's also possible, because telling Putin that the United States has weapons and knows where the Russian dictator is at any given moment is already a sufficient warning.

Let's note that last Sunday (July 27. - Ed.) a naval parade was canceled in St. Petersburg, and it's obvious why. Because even after the cancelation there was a drone attack, at least on the Leningrad region. Even the first SMS alert in St. Petersburg that there was a drone attack was just this Sunday. Putin pretended something there, drove around the city, but they were afraid to bring him to the parade.

Of course, Putin is most afraid for his life, and it seems to me that such things could have frightened him.

- So he is most afraid of annihilation, physical liquidation?

- Absolutely right.

- Olga, and yet money plays an important role in this war that Putin is waging against Ukraine today.

- Money is needed to produce all of these weapons that are going on the heads of the Ukrainians.

- Maybe if Trump imposes these sanctions that he's been talking about, it will actually significantly reduce the capabilities of the Russian occupation army. In your opinion, is that really likely to have a purely real impact on what's happening on the battlefield today?"

- Certainly some impact it will definitely have. But there is one more thing that Trump can do - if he makes a deal with China that China stops supporting Russia, then Putin will have to somehow end the war, because without the support of China and North Korea, he will not be able to fight.

- You have said many times in your interviews that you see the only really real way to end the war is regime change in the Russian Federation. Do you think that this task, for example, could be set by Washington, accomplish it and rid the world of this plague?

- Certainly it could. Another thing is that it would require very serious work. And a simple, let's say, liquidation of a dictator, of course, would change a lot, but if you really want to change the regime, you need to understand the processes that are going on in Russia.

From McFaul's recent interview with Dudu, we realized that even a man who has positioned himself as an expert on Russia doesn't understand much about Russia.

So, of course, the United States could liquidate the dictator, and that would really make a serious difference. I think it would definitely lead to the end of the war. But if we want to talk about long-term security, we need to change not only the dictator in Russia, but also the regime. And this is a joint effort between the West, Ukraine and the Russian opposition, however ridiculous it may seem to many.

- How do you see this prospect in principle? Optimistic, pessimistic or realistic? Say, do you think it can be realized within the next five years?

- Well, of course, optimistically. Because I would like to live to see such a change.

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