The somber, authoritative charade of the Trump-Putin meeting
The upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, scheduled for this Friday, has been a topic of much discussion. The focus of these talks is the proposed peace plan for Ukraine, which reportedly includes preliminary agreements on security guarantees for Ukraine and a possible bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
However, these talks have not resulted in any concrete peace breakthroughs. Without Ukraine at the negotiating table, any deal or agreement reached by Trump and Putin will likely be seen as hollow. This is due in part to the absence of Ukrainians at the summit, making it difficult to see it producing anything of real substance.
Ukrainian President Zelensky secured Trump’s tentative commitment to support Ukraine’s security and avoided making territorial concessions at this stage. However, the Kremlin remains adamant about controlling Ukraine’s future security arrangements, effectively rejecting a lasting settlement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the possibility of direct talks between Putin and Zelensky and demanded a veto role for Russia in Ukraine’s security.
The reception to this plan by Zelensky and the Ukrainian people appears cautious and wary. The Ukrainian public remains skeptical due to Russia’s continued military aggression, exemplified by a massive missile strike shortly after these talks. This undermines optimism about the peace process.
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As the world watches the developments between Trump and Putin, the Ukrainian people grow increasingly desperate for the war to end. Recent polling finds that public morale in Ukraine is lower than at any point since the war began. With 69% favoring negotiating peace as soon as possible, hopes remain that a lasting settlement can be reached despite the current challenges.
[1] Source: Reuters, BBC News, and The Guardian.
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