(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Kyiv based journalist and foreign policy expert Jimmy Rushton, speaking on Times Radio’s The Trump Report with Maddie Hale, warned that Ukraine’s “gloves will come off,” unleashing its “full capability” if the United States withdraws its support. This follows high level discussions and revelations suggesting a proposed peace plan by the Trump administration could be heavily influenced by questionable Russian business interests, a scenario regarded sceptically by pro Ukrainian commentators.
Ukrainian delegates and members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff, met in Miami on Sunday, building on work conducted the previous week in Geneva. While specific draft proposals were not publicly detailed, Rubio described the meeting as “very productive,” adding that “a lot of more work” remains. The Ukrainian delegation supported this assessment, citing “substantial progress” and confirming that Kyiv’s core goals—security, sovereignty, and reliable peace—remain unchanged and are “also shared by the US side.”
Scepticism surrounds the diplomatic process, particularly concerning envoy Witkoff, who is scheduled to travel to Moscow today for discussions with the inner circle of the Russian dictator, Vladimir. Rushton stated he is only “slightly more optimistic” than a week prior, noting that Rubio, who is viewed as “the adult in the room,” led the Miami talks, contrasting him with Jared Kushner and Witkoff, the latter of whom appears “hopelessly compromised by the Russians.”
Recent leaked audio files published by Axios and the Financial Times revealed Witkoff coaching the Kremlin on how to communicate with Donald Trump prior to a planned meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky. This has prompted several Republicans to call for Witkoff’s removal. Rushton argued that Witkoff is clearly operating “more in his own personal interest and in the interests of Russia than he is in either America or Ukraine,” noting that the leaks allegedly showed Kremlin officials discussing how they would “cook up” a 28 point peace plan—reportedly a machine translated Russian document—which Witkoff then presented as his own.
Rushton dismissed this economic argument as a “fundamental misunderstanding of the way Putin thinks and the way Russia thinks generally.” He pointed out that Russia’s economy was not performing badly before the 2022 full scale invasion, making “an absolute fortune selling oil and gas to the west.” He asserted that the dictator’s intentions are not fundamentally economic but driven by a desire to take more countries, warning that prosperity would only embolden future revisionist aggressions.
A report from the Kisk and Norwegian Institute of International Affairs estimates the comparative financial costs, illustrating that European assistance to secure a Ukrainian victory, estimated to cost Europe around to (approximately to ) over four years, would be significantly less costly in the long term than a Russian victory. A Russian triumph could amount to up to (€1.65 trillion) in future defence and stability costs, including increased defence expenditures, refugee flows, and reconstruction needs. Rushton argued that ignoring the cost of aid now is impossible, stating that a Russian victory would grant them natural resources, territory, and a large population pool for forced mobilisation.
Recent reports from The Telegraph suggested that Trump might recognise parts of Ukrainian territory, specifically Crimea and Donbas, as Russian territory, including areas Russia does not currently occupy. Russia presently occupies approximately 88% of Donbas. Rushton stressed that Ukrainians, including militants, are wholly opposed to ceding land, aligning with former Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak’s recent interview assertion that “not a single sane person today would sign a document to give up territory.” Rushton stressed that giving up the remaining 12% of Donbas would be strategically significant, as it contains key fortress cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk and the bulk of Ukraine’s defensive lines. He affirmed that any order to surrender land would be viewed as an act of betrayal and treason by the Ukrainian military, violating the Ukrainian constitution.
Adding to Kyiv’s concerns, Rubio stated last week that the US would only provide security guarantees after a peace deal with Russia is signed. Rushton described this position as “far” and illogical, arguing Ukraine “cannot agree to any form of deal unless it knows” what security guarantees will be provided, as this is fundamental to the future posture of the Ukrainian state, including the size of its military.
Ukraine faces a critical funding shortage, with resources expected to run out in the coming months. Debate continues over unfreezing seized Russian assets. The EU is currently considering a loan (approximately ) backed by these frozen assets. Belgium, where the majority of the funds are held, is reportedly apprehensive, warning that this move could “derail peace talks.” Rushton dismissed the claim of derailing peace efforts as a “ridiculous excuse” that “almost perfectly echo[es] Kremlin narratives.” He suggested the true motivation for Belgium is the tax revenue generated from the interest on the frozen assets. Rushton called for pressure on Belgium to recognise that European security “is a responsibility of everyone in Europe,” not just border countries.
Despite the political uncertainty, Ukraine continues to prevail on the front lines, particularly through innovative tactics. Ukrainian forces recently struck a Rosas oil refinery in Russia’s Volga region and used naval drones to hit two sanctioned Shadow Fleet tankers in the Black Sea that were heading to a Russian port to load oil. Rushton confirmed the campaign of targeting Russian oil infrastructure has been “very successful,” using long range strike and sea drones. He noted that the two Black Sea tankers, though empty, appear to be “complete losses.” Rushton warned that if Western partners withdraw support, the military will feel the “gloves have come off,” allowing the “full capability” of Ukrainian intelligence services and sophisticated drone technology to be unleashed, having been previously constrained by Western concerns.
He praised the Ukrainian military, stating they have fought the world’s second largest army “to a virtual standstill” in a war they were expected to lose quickly. He described them as “without doubt the most deadly drone operators in the world,” having pioneered the technology. Rushton concluded that proper aid to Ukraine is not only pragmatic given the catastrophic long term cost of a Russian victory, but also “the morally correct thing to do.”
