Our visiting fellows, Dr Sonia Mycak and Dr Matthew Sussex, have provided expert insights in a new SBS News article, analysing Trump’s failed attempt to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. 

"Mycak, who is of Ukrainian descent, believes the Trump administration is proving ineffective in negotiations. The president’s attitude towards Ukraine – the victim of an unprovoked invasion – is erratic at best and biased at worst. 

"The US has lost credibility as a fair and balanced negotiator." she said. 

Sussex said the Ukrainian side likely views Trump's staffers as "about as trustworthy as the Kremlin." 

"If there is a ceasefire, I would expect it to be fairly partial, fairly temporary and broken by both sides virtually straight away," he added. 

Matthew Sussex told SBS News the US is forcing concessions from Ukraine but putting minimal pressure on Russia to come to the table. 

"If you were in the Kremlin and looking at the way that the United States was going about the negotiations and the big ceasefire deal, then you'll have seen that the Americans have given away virtually all of their diplomatic capital that they could have used," he said. 

"And you never interrupt your adversary when they're making a mistake." 

Read the full article on the SBS website, linked here.