John Bolton, former national security adviser during Donald Trump’s first term, has accused the U.S. president of making concessions to Russia even before negotiations have begun.

"Concessions have been made before talks have even started. Trump has effectively surrendered to Putin on Ukraine," Bolton said on February 12, commenting on the outcome of Trump’s recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Bolton argued that Trump’s latest statements amounted to "selling out Ukraine" by pressuring Kyiv to relinquish territory while also denying security guarantees or NATO membership. He warned that reversing U.S. support for Ukraine would threaten American security interests in Central Europe and embolden adversaries in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.

"The U.S. should be standing firm with Ukraine and our NATO allies right now. America cannot protect its national interests if it allows Russia to win in Ukraine," Bolton wrote on X.

Former Vice President Mike Pence echoed Bolton’s concerns, warning that if the U.S. abandons Ukraine, it will eventually "become Russian territory." He also referenced Trump’s own words: "The world is at peace when America is strong," urging Washington to maintain a tough stance against Moscow.

"If Ukraine falls, it’s only a matter of time before Russia attacks a NATO ally, and then American troops will have to step in," Pence said.

Bolton’s remarks came just after Trump revealed details of his 90-minute phone call with Putin on February 11, in which they discussed potential peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced the formation of a core negotiating team and expressed his hope for an in-person meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia, though no date has been set.

"Millions have died in this war, which never would have happened if I had been president. But it did happen, and now I must end it. We cannot afford to lose any more lives," Trump wrote.

At a subsequent White House press conference, Trump provided limited insights into his position on Ukraine, though he did not disclose specific details about his planned negotiations with Moscow.

When asked whether a peace deal could restore Ukraine’s 2014 borders, Trump said such an outcome was "unlikely," noting that "Russia has gained a lot of territory, fought for it, and lost many troops in the process."

Trump also downplayed Ukraine’s chances of joining NATO, calling it "unrealistic"—a stance echoed by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent trip to Belgium.

While Bolton condemned Trump’s approach, some experts argued that his statements simply reflected geopolitical realities. Stephen Wertheim of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace suggested that Trump’s rejection of Ukraine’s NATO bid "signals to Russia that a deal is possible based on the facts on the ground."

Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics, echoed this view, saying Ukrainians have long understood the realities Trump described but have been reluctant to acknowledge them openly.

"The difference between Biden and Trump is that the current U.S. president is now openly saying what his predecessor already believed and acted upon regarding Ukraine. Biden has also opposed NATO expansion, withheld sufficient aid for Ukraine to reclaim lost territory when it was still possible on the battlefield, and avoided imposing overly harsh sanctions on Russia," Mylovanov said.

He also stressed that no U.S. president has been able to prevent war in Ukraine—only Ukraine itself can build the military strength necessary for its defense.

"Trump is simply being blunt: This is Europe’s and Ukraine’s problem. There is no scenario where the U.S. fights Russia on Ukraine’s behalf, rebuilds its military, eliminates corruption, or implements reforms for them. That world never existed," Mylovanov added.

Trump’s and Hegseth’s remarks coincided with a visit to Kyiv by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who announced that a mineral extraction deal between Ukraine and the U.S. could serve as a "security shield" for Kyiv after the war.

Zelensky has expressed willingness to sign an agreement allowing U.S. investors access to Ukraine’s mining sector. Trump, meanwhile, said on February 12 that such a deal would help secure future U.S. funding for Ukraine.

John Herbst, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine under President George W. Bush, acknowledged that Washington had forfeited some leverage in negotiations with Russia. However, he noted that Bessent’s visit to Kyiv was a positive signal.

"According to Trump’s logic, exchanging U.S. weapons for Ukrainian minerals is a pragmatic way to sustain military aid for Ukraine in the future," Herbst predicted.

(Sources: CNN, Reuters)