Why land swap could result in Zelensky's ouster

Peter Zalmayev, a Ukrainian-American TV host and political commentator, has criticised Friday’s meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Speaking to the media in Nairobi on Saturday evening, Zalmayev, who is on what he described as a ‘public diplomacy’ visit to African countries, also lamented that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was excluded from the talks.

He said Ukraine has little chance of winning the war and argued that the European Union cannot be relied upon for support, since it is divided, a situation that Putin welcomes.

Zalmayev expressed frustration that no ceasefire was declared in the Alaska talks, despite expectations that this would be the main outcome.

“Our Ukrainian people and European allies are very upset and unhappy about what happened in Alaska. I mean, look even at the theatrics of it. A red carpet, and then he’s just in the limousine. He (Trump) was clapping to Putin, I don’t know for what, maybe for Putin making the last few steps, like he’s great at walking,” said Zalmayev.

He added: “Trump thinks that if you flatter him, you get what you want. I still can’t get over that meeting and the theatrics of it, remembering that the meeting happened on American soil.”

Alaska, once Russian territory, was sold to the United States in the 19th century.

Zalmayev said President Trump was too lenient towards Putin, even though he had previously threatened tougher sanctions if Russia did not end the war.

“He still has not gotten any concessions from the Russian side. It seems like Russia got what it wanted and now nothing in return for America or Ukraine.”

He warned that proposed Ukraine-Russia land swaps are a trap for Ukraine and could spark widespread anger among citizens who have sacrificed their lives, potentially leading to Zelensky’s removal from office.

Natural resources

It is reported that Putin is willing to end the war if Ukraine cedes the entire Donbas and Donetsk regions to Russia, areas rich in natural resources such as coal.

“Let’s say Zelensky signs off on some land or decides to initiate this process. This could lead to serious disturbances on the streets from all these hundreds of thousands of men who have been fighting, losing their comrades, limbs and their lives. They will come out like, why did we fight all these years so you can sign off, you know on land and give it to Russia?” said Zalmayev.

He added: “This could lead to ouster of Zelensky, unrest, chaos in the country and Putin knows that. Or if Zelensky says hard no, we cannot negotiate away our land, Putin then will point at him and say, you see, it’s Ukrainians who don’t want peace.”

He added: “We had former President Joe Biden, whose idea and platform was no negotiations about Ukraine without it at the table. That was the joint kind of position that the countries of our supporters (the Rammstein Coalition) worked out. And now Trump comes in and its negotiations about Ukraine without it at the table. That’s exactly what Putin wanted.”

Since the war in Ukraine began in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Zalmayev has been an active commentator for major international media outlets.

When the full-scale invasion began in 2022, Zalmayev was broadcasting from a studio in Kyiv and felt the impact of explosions from ballistic missiles striking the city centre.

In September last year, he said he chose to visit countries he had always dreamed of, while also connecting with local people.

“This war in Ukraine gave me a platform from which to speak, connect with the different audiences in these countries that I visit. Since September, I’ve been travelling in the South Pacific, island nations, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, among others.

“So, it’s like a public diplomacy, sort of an ambassador-at-large but let me say self-appointed. I do not receive a penny from the Ukrainian government, it’s self-funded. I am using my life savings, and I have support from a small foundation as well. I use the cheapest hotels and I am running out of my own cash. I am just supporting Zelensky because he is my president but I even didn’t vote for him,” he added.