Steering Clear of a Trump-Putin-Selenskyj Summit Anytime Soon
Kremlin rules out a three-way meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy at present.
Hey there! So, it seems that a much-hyped trilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj isn't happening anytime soon. And why not? Well, let's dive into it shall we?
US President Trump has shown eagerness for this meeting, but Putin's camp appears unwilling to rush things. Dmitri Peskow, Putin's spokesman, stated that high-level contacts are fine, but a direct meeting isn't on the cards just yet, according to the Interfax news agency. Trump had been pushing for this meeting as part of his efforts to put an end to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, which has been dragging on for over three years.
But don't get your hopes too high. Trump's proposed summit isn't expected to yield any substantial results from the Russian-Ukrainian talks scheduled for Monday in Istanbul. Nevertheless, there have been some positive developments on the humanitarian front. Both parties agreed to a significant prisoner exchange and the return of deceased soldiers' remains.
Now, let's take a closer look at why this meeting isn't happening. For starters, there are some substantial obstacles to overcome. Russia has demonstrated little interest in having a direct sit-down with Zelenskyj, citing ongoing hostilities as a reason. And, moreover, Putin has accused Ukraine of using ceasefire proposals as a smokescreen to stockpile weapons and prepare for new attacks.
Beyond that, fundamental disagreements on ceasefire terms and peace conditions abound. Both parties have established non-negotiable demands, and the gap between these positions is seen as insurmountable by the international community. Add to that a healthy dose of posturing and conditions from both sides, and you've got a recipe for stalemate.
Recent military actions on both sides haven't helped matters either. Ukrainian drone and missile operations targeting Russian military assets, along with Russian counterattacks, have created a tense atmosphere that isn't conducive to high-level discussions.
The US has also played a role in the deadlock, with Zelenskyj urging Trump to impose tougher sanctions on Russian sectors. However, the US hasn't announced any major new measures yet. Trump has, however, threatened both sides with consequences if they don't comply.
In summary, the lack of an imminent trilateral summit is due to mutual distrust, entrenched positions, ongoing military actions, and the absence of a credible preliminary agreement or willingness from all parties—especially Russia—to engage at the highest level. And yep, that's the skinny on it!
- Dmitri Peskow
- Vladimir Putin
- Donald Trump
- Volodymyr Zelenskyj
- Attack on Ukraine
- Ukraine Conflict
- Russia
- Ukraine
- USA
Sources: ntv.de, jog/dpa, [1], [2], [3]
While the European Union isn't directly involved in the Trump-Putin-Zelenskyj summit, it's worth noting that the EU remains committed to the implementation of the EU's nuclear programme, given the ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, politics and general-news continue to dominate headlines as the summit between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyj seems unlikely, due to mutual distrust, entrenched positions, ongoing military actions, and the absence of a credible preliminary agreement or willingness from all parties—especially Russia—to engage at the highest level.
