Vladimir Putin is ready for the deal of all deals but there's a huge catch, says oligarch

Exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky has claimed that Vladimir Putin may be willing to negotiate a peace deal on Ukraine but only if it’s with Donald Trump.

In an interview with British broadcaster Trevor Phillips, Khodorkovsky said he believes Putin has “sent a signal” to Trump that he’s open to a deal aimed at ending the ongoing war. According to him, such an agreement could include territorial concessions to Russia, particularly in the Donbas region, which Moscow has long sought to control.

“I have the impression that Putin has sent Trump a signal that he is ready for a deal. Putin wants to get the whole of Donbass those parts he hasn’t occupied yet,” Khodorkovsky said.

He added that Putin’s strategy may involve destabilizing the rest of Ukraine while consolidating Russian control in the east.

When asked about the growing speculation surrounding a potential Trump–Putin meeting in Hungary, Khodorkovsky said, “I have already started getting doubts about understanding Putin and what he really wants.” He also admitted that he never quite understood Trump’s approach to foreign relations.

Khodorkovsky, once one of Russia’s wealthiest oil tycoons as head of Yukos, spent more than a decade in prison after clashing with the Kremlin. He now lives in exile in London, where he remains an outspoken critic of both Putin and Western governments’ handling of Russia.

He argued that the United Kingdom lacks strong expertise on Russia, saying the country once had better insight and strategic understanding.

“What Britain lacks today is expert knowledge about Russia, which it possessed about 30 years ago,” he explained. “The UK should engage with people who understand Russia and can act as natural allies to the British government.”

Khodorkovsky also emphasized that psychological pressure on Putin combined with opposition unity could help weaken the Russian leader’s grip on power.

However, he admitted that returning to Russia is impossible for him. The Kremlin has reportedly filed new charges against him, and he fears potential violence even outside Russia.

Despite these risks, Khodorkovsky continues to campaign for peace in Ukraine, saying:

“Stopping this war would be much more important than waiting another few years for Putin to leave the stage.”

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in Hungary soon the Russian president’s first confirmed visit to an EU country since the invasion began in February 2022.