Trump seeks a meeting between Putin and Zelensky following the summit in Alaska.
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are set to meet this Friday in Alaska, with the focus on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to Trump, the upcoming meeting will aim to establish a direct bilateral meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with the ultimate goal of initiating talks that could lead to a broader peace negotiation. Trump has emphasized the urgency of these discussions, advocating for prompt engagement rather than delays.
Putin, it appears, may be softening his territorial demands, potentially limiting them to the Donetsk region, rather than seeking concessions from multiple Ukrainian regions as previously demanded. However, details remain uncertain. The complex and sensitive nature of the potential territorial concessions is evident, with Ukraine currently controlling only about 25% of the Donetsk region. Any cession of this territory would be unprecedented.
A good peace deal, according to experts, would require reciprocity in territorial concessions and a clear roadmap for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, including a leaders meeting. However, Europe and Ukraine have established red lines that include rejection of Ukraine’s demilitarization, interference in its domestic affairs, ceding territory without reciprocal Russian withdrawal, premature lifting of sanctions, rollback of NATO presence in Eastern Europe, and normalization of US-Russia relations bypassing Europe and Ukraine.
Trump has questioned the need for permission to make territorial exchanges, indicating a desire for unconditional ceasefire not contingent on Ukrainian concessions. He has expressed displeasure with Zelensky's refusal to cede territory to Russia and wants the return of territories occupied by Russia since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022.
After the Putin-Trump meeting, Trump plans to contact Zelensky and other European leaders to discuss the outcomes and potential next steps. The role of Europeans and Ukrainian consent remains crucial to any sustainable settlement, underscoring the need for diplomatic finesse and careful negotiation.
Trump has declared that he will tell Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine, but whether this meeting will lead to a breakthrough or further complications remains to be seen. The international community watches with bated breath as the two leaders prepare for their historic encounter.
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