Leaders Putin and Zelensky preparing for a peace summit following discussions with Trump
The world is watching as a proposed peace summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gains momentum, with the aim of resolving the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Zelensky has been advocating for a direct bilateral summit with Putin, believing it to be the most effective way to move peace talks forward. However, Russian President Putin has shown reluctance to meet Zelensky directly, potentially fearing political optics and maintaining hard demands.
Ukrainian officials and sources close to the government have suggested that Putin may avoid a direct summit by making unacceptable or pretextual demands, such as insisting on Ukrainian elections or delegating talks to foreign ministers instead of heads of state. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has confirmed that the agenda for a meeting is "not ready at all," signalling that substantive preparations have not matured.
The main issues for long-term security guarantees for Ukraine being discussed revolve around Russia's demands and the broader framework for ending the war, which often includes territorial concessions and assurances about Ukraine's sovereignty and future. The U.S., represented by President Donald Trump in recent diplomacy, has urged Ukraine to be constructive, though he has at times suggested Ukraine might need to cede territory to end the conflict.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Putin has agreed to the bilateral meeting within the next two weeks, but there is no confirmation of a date or location. Trump has announced plans for a three-way summit with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
The presence of European leaders, including those from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission, and NATO, at the meeting underscores continuing nervousness about whether Trump will pivot towards Putin. German Chancellor Merz has also stated that Ukraine should not be forced to surrender its Donbass region to Russia in talks.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for stepping up sanctions against Russia if Putin does not move forward on peace with Ukraine. NATO chief Mark Rutte described the meeting as "very successful" and "breaking the deadlock." Despite ruling out Kyiv's long-held dream of joining NATO, Putin has agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Finnish President Alex Stubb has expressed doubts about Putin's trustworthiness.
As the world waits for developments, it remains to be seen whether the proposed peace summit will indeed take place and whether it will lead to a lasting resolution of the Russo-Ukrainian War. The negotiations are expected to be complex and fraught with challenges, but hopes remain high that a peaceful solution can be found.
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