In response to mounting pressure and a deadly Russian offensive on Kyiv, President Donald Trump broke his silence to criticize Vladimir Putin, but also blamed Ukrainian President Zelenskiy for exacerbating tensions. Despite Trump’s tough words, his recent call with Putin and decision to step back from imposing new sanctions have eased U.S. pressure on Russia, prompting concern among NATO allies and sparking internal U.S. diplomatic dissent.

Meanwhile, Russia continues its military aggression and rejects ceasefire efforts, confident that time and division within the West are on its side.

“Putin isn’t interested in a ceasefire or an agreement, but rather in victory, understood as the subjugation of Ukraine,” Brian Taylor, director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, tells El País. “The Russian president has faced zero consequences for stalling Trump over the past four months, and from what Trump has said about the conversation, that hasn’t changed one bit.”

In the Kyiv Post article, “Vindman and Other Ukraine Experts Weigh in on Trump, Europe, Pressure on Russia,” Taylor was asked if Russia is concerned about any looming European sanctions. “Well, I think Russia is concerned about it enough that Putin came out at 2 a.m. in the morning and made this proposal to—from the Russian point of view—‘restart’ the Istanbul negotiations,” Taylor says.

“He wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t feel like the European initiative to say, ‘If they don’t agree to a ceasefire, we’re going to enact new, serious sanctions,’ had something behind it,” he says.

Taylor was also interviewed on the CBS News segments “‘Putin doesn't want a deal, he wants victory,’ expert says on Ukraine ceasefire” and ”Trump says Russia and Ukraine will immediately start ceasefire talks, Vatican may host negotiations,” along with the KTVU segment “Trump speaking to Putin, Zelenskyy to push for ceasefire in Ukraine.”