Russia intensifies political pressure on Ukraine's leader Zelenskyy - potential consultation with U.S. President Trump?
In the latest round of Ukraine-Russia talks, the Kremlin appears to be ratcheting up the heat on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. As per The Financial Times, Moscow isn't too keen on having the Americans sit at the negotiation table, contrary to Ukraine's demands for US involvement. A clear indication of this new stance is yet to emerge on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has coordinated his moves with his US counterpart, Donald Trump.
Trump, on numerous occasions, has emphasized that the resolution of this conflict is essentially Ukraine and Russia's issue to resolve. Amidst this, The New York Times reports that Russia's strategy of bypassing the demanded ceasefire by Kyiv and starting negotiations has already yielded a small victory for them.
There seems to be a multifaceted scenario unfolding. Trump has been backing Putin's push for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, possibly indicating a move away from heavy US involvement. Conversely, the US administration's role in recent negotiations seems to have diminished, with the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, taking a more reserved approach. This shift might indicate a growing acceptance for Russia and Ukraine to negotiate with minimal US influence.
However, as of now, there's no clear indication of coordination between Putin and Trump to exclude the US from negotiations. Instead, there's a focus on the ongoing dialogue between the US and Russia, with Trump repeatedly urging for a ceasefire. In essence, the situation presents a complex dynamic, with both sides reassessing their stances in the conflict resolution process.
War-and-conflicts continue to dominate politics as the Ukraine-Russia talks escalate, with the US policy-and-legislation role appearing to diminish. General news outlets report a shift towards fewer US interventions, with Trump supporting direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, while the US administration takes a more reserved approach, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
