Trump's Push for Putin-Zelensky Meeting Meets Kremlin's Resistance
No prospect of a three-way meeting between the Kremlin, Trump, and Zelenskyy at present.
A potential trilateral summit between Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and US President Donald Trump seems to be a distant dream, as Moscow is nonchalant about the possibility. Despite Trump's efforts to end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian government appears to be playing for time.
According to Russian spokesman, Dmitri Peskow, the Kremlin is open to high-level contacts with the US and Ukraine but is unwilling to commit to an immediate face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky. In a conversation with the Interfax news agency, Peskow suggested that these high-level talks should only happen after preliminary agreements have been reached between the Ukrainian and Russian negotiators.
Trump had proposed such a trilateral dialogue to help resolve the Ukraine conflict, which has persisted for more than three years. However, the imminence of any significant breakthrough seems unlikely, as Peskow expressed that no major progress is expected from the Russian-Ukrainian talks scheduled in Istanbul on Monday.
There have been positive developments in the humanitarian field, as both parties have agreed on another large prisoner exchange and the return of soldiers' bodies. The warring parties brought papers to Istanbul, which they later published, outlining their respective visions for resolving the conflict.
Moscow anticipates a response from Ukraine to the Russian memorandum presented, according to Peskow. The document contains Russia's comprehensive demands, including an unacceptable permanent cession of Ukrainian territories and unconditional submission to Russia. While possible compromises on these demands are supposed to be discussed in the negotiation process, they should not be publicly debated, Peskow mentioned.
Several reasons suggest that a trilateral meeting between Putin, Zelensky, and Trump is unlikely. The Kremlin's stringent conditions for such a meeting indicate that it is not presently ready for a summit without definite preparations. Putin's reluctance to meet Zelensky in Istanbul demonstrates his disinterest in direct discussions unless specific circumstances are met. Furthermore, Putin's questioning of Zelensky's legitimacy as a leader and the continuing tensions in the conflict zone complicate the situation. Lastly, the uncertain role of the US in facilitating the meeting and recent lack of progress regarding sanctions and a ceasefire add to the obstacles.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- jog/dpa
Related:
- Dmitri Peskow
- Vladimir Putin
- Donald Trump
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Attack on Ukraine
- Ukraine Conflict
- Russia
- Ukraine
- USA
Insights:
- The Kremlin stated that any prospective meeting between Putin and Zelensky would require preliminary agreements to be in place between the respective negotiators.
- Putin previously declined a proposal to hold discussions with Zelensky in Istanbul in favor of sending a delegation.
- Putin has expressed doubts about the legitimacy of Zelensky's authority as a leader.
- The ongoing conflict and recent aerial attacks create an environment that makes diplomatic progress challenging.
- The US role in mediating such a meeting appears uncertain, as little progress has been made on sanctions or a ceasefire.
- The European Union, with its focus on the implementation of the EU's nuclear programme, remains uninvolved in the complex politics surrounding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is dominated by war-and-conflicts, negotiations, and general news.
- Amidst dire forecasts about a potential trilateral meeting between Putin, Zelensky, and Trump, discussions about the EU's nuclear programme come as a distant concern, as the issue seems overshadowed by the tense political developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
