Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (2014-2019), Pavlo Klimkin, during an interview for Suspilne, October 21, 2025. Suspilne News / Oleksandr Sova
Pavlo Klimkin, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister from 2014 to 2019, after the meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and the United States in Washington, spoke about how he sees Trump and Trump’s vision of Putin, peace, and Ukraine in the new geopolitical reality. According to him, the days when Russia was a “gas station” are ending, and changes in the energy and political balance create new opportunities for Ukraine.
According to Klimkin, Trump has three priorities: ending hostilities, shifting part of the responsibility for security onto Europe, and normalizing relations with Russia. He aims to cement the outcome ahead of the electoral cycle, acting on the principle of conceptual understandings instead of traditional diplomatic concepts.
He wants to look strong, tough in the face of difficult events inside the country.
– Pavlo Klimkin
Klimkin emphasizes that for Trump the clarity of understandings with Putin is important, but this does not mean Ukraine will be left out of negotiations. He notes that a “Deal” is not just an agreement, but an arrangement that defines the next steps for many parties in the region.
Deal is when you’ve reached a conceptual understanding.
– Pavlo Klimkin
This means that if Trump grasps the sense of the conceptual agreement, he will press hard on everyone – on Putin and on us – to achieve this agreement, says Klimkin. He also emphasizes that the United States views Ukraine as an important geopolitical asset in the context of stabilizing the region.
We urgently need the Americans.
– Pavlo Klimkin
Russia’s role in the new reality and Europe’s responsibility
According to Klimkin, Russia will no longer be able to function as a “gas station” and is forced to reboot its economy, reducing dependence on the West. He emphasizes that Russia must weigh its population and investment risks, but a coordinated strategy from the West is required to not leave Ukraine alone with the aggressor.
Mr. Klimkin also notes the need for close coordination among the United States, Europe, and Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine should be not only sovereign and independent but also clearly integrated into Western reality – for lasting peace and regional stability.