(MENAFN- UkrinForm) This view was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by Tomáš Kopečný, the Czech Government Commissioner for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.

“It seems to me that Putin can no longer use his 'charm' and personal connections to influence Trump,” Kopečný said.

According to him, it looks as though the Russian leader is simply mocking the U.S. President, but people like Trump do not tolerate such treatment.

In addition, the Czech official believes that Trump is no longer surrounded by the same figures who were close to him in February and March and who openly mocked or criticized Ukraine. Now these are traditional Republicans who believe that America should come first, yet also understand that they cannot allow Russia to mock them.

Kopečný also sees a positive development in the fact that the American position is now almost aligned with the European one, and that Ukraine's position is no longer seen merely as President Zelensky's demand, but as part of a common European stance.

At the same time, the Czech politician acknowledged that Trump's position continues to fluctuate significantly, and his emotions change very sharply. In Kopečný's view, Trump cares less about whether a ceasefire or a just peace is achieved, and more about being the one who delivers it.

Read also: Ukraine needs long-range missiles to force Putin into peace – Zelensky

He expressed confidence that only the U.S. administration, and Trump personally, can force Putin to come to the negotiating table and seriously weaken the Russian economy, since the only thing that can stop the war is restricting Russia's oil revenues. According to Kopečný, Trump has two tools that could achieve this: secondary sanctions and military capabilities capable of destroying oil refineries.

Kopečný believes that a Trump-Putin meeting will take place when the Russian side clearly demonstrates that it is serious and ready to negotiate about what Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky want.

“That would not be a just peace, but it is the best option we currently have - to stop hostilities along the current battle line,” Kopečný noted.

As reported, Donald Trump canceled an announced meeting with Putin in Budapest, saying he does not want to waste time if the meeting does not deliver results.

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