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150 drones after a promise not to attack: why Putin’s “truce” is a trap

Russia has once again confirmed its reputation as a country that does not honor any agreements. Just one night after Putin promised Donald Trump to stop strikes on the Ukrainian energy sector, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 150 drones. At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a conversation with the US president that he was ready to stop strikes on the Russian energy sector. However, how to believe Putin and who can really force the dictator to stop the war – read more in the article Komersant ukrainskyi

Ukraine is ready not to strike at Russian energy sector, but given Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine, Putin lied again.

“After Putin’s conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, when Putin said that he was allegedly ordering to stop strikes on Ukrainian energy, there were 150 drones overnight. In particular, at energy facilities. There were strikes on transport, two hospitals were hit, unfortunately,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy

This cynical deception once again demonstrates that Putin is not just breaking his promises – he is deliberately using them as a tool for military and political gamesmanship.

Trump and his entourage: Do they believe in the Kremlin’s honesty?

However, it was not the violation of the “truce” itself that came as a surprise, but the reaction of American officials. US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff tried to justify Russia’s actions, saying:

“The nighttime attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure occurred before Putin’s order to stop the strikes was given.”

Moreover, he added that he trusted the Russian president:

“I tend to believe that Putin is acting in good faith, and I trust his words.”

These words caused a wave of outrage. Otherwise, how can one trust a dictator who has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for eleven years, violating international agreements and shelling civilians?

At the same time, Donald Trump said that his conversation with Zelenskyy “went very well.” However, he did not say a word about how the United States plans to respond to new Russian attacks.

Why is Russia’s “truce” a trap?

Russia has repeatedly used “peace initiatives” to achieve its military goals. Military expert Dmytro Snegiryov explains that the Kremlin’s current proposals should be viewed in this context:

“Stopping mobilization and military aid will create conditions for strengthening Russia and weakening Ukraine, which will inevitably lead to a new offensive by the Russian army, but under much worse conditions for us.”

According to the expert, Russia is trying to promote the idea of “demilitarization of Ukraine” under the guise of a short-term ceasefire:

“The 30-day ceasefire in the Russian version is a test regime. If now Ukraine and the United States agree to a ban on arms supplies, it will be fulfillment of the Russian Federation’s demands in the future. This is what the Russian side calls the demilitarization of Ukraine.”

In other words, Moscow sees this truce not as a step towards peace, but as the first stage towards the complete disarmament of Ukraine and the further destruction of its defense capabilities.

Secret Talks in Riyadh: What Happens Behind Closed Doors?

Despite Russia’s open violations of the agreements, the Trump administration continues to negotiate with the Kremlin. Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Volz confirmed that meetings between US and Russian representatives will take place in Riyadh in the coming days.

“We have agreed that our technical teams will meet in Riyadh in the coming days to focus on implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire,” Mike Volz said.

But if the Kremlin’s “truce” looks like 150 drones overnight, what else should we expect from these talks?

What’s next: concessions or resistance?

Today, Ukraine and the United States face a choice.

Ukraine is well aware of what Russian “peace initiatives” are: they always end in new attacks. Putin uses any pause to regroup his troops and strike again.

The main conclusions are that Russia broke its promise less than a day after Putin spoke with Trump, and that Russia’s ceasefire proposals are not peace, but rather a strategic trap for Ukraine and its allies.