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Potential Scenario: Putin's Ambitions Might Not Include Ceasing Hostilities - Trump suggests that Putin might not be intent on ending the ongoing conflict.
After a tense encounter between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican during Pope Francis' funeral, there's renewed hope for a truce in the neck-deep Ukraine conflict. Zelensky declared post-meetings with Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that Ukraine stands ready for an unconditional ceasefire – now, it's Russia's move.
Can Putin Raise the White Flag?
Following US discussions with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, Vladimir Putin allegedly expressed readiness for direct, precondition-free negotiations with Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the Russian leader's intentions during a meeting with Witkoff, as reported by the Russian news agency Interfax [1]. However, the question remains whether Putin is genuinely interested in ending the conflict or merely stalling for time [2].
Trump himself claimed, following a three-hour meeting with Putin, that there could be an agreement in the hostilities. Yet, Putin consistently expressed his eagerness to talk with Kyiv – only to demand the withdrawal of Zelensky's decree banning such discussions [1]. If this obstacle were lifted, negotiations might resemble their early stages, where both Ukrainians and Russians negotiated an end to the war in a head-to-head battle [3].
Trump's Sanctions Saber-Rattling
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky in St. Peter's Basilica was familiarly awkward, contrasting starkly with their February stand-off. Post-reunion, Trump expressed reservations about Putin's sincerity in ending the war [2]. In addition, he threatened Russia with sanctions, specifically sanctions targeting third-party countries, businesses, and individuals engaging in commerce with Russia [2]. Trump also hinted at further isolating Russia from the international banking system, unusual harsh words from the former president [2].
Whilst sanctions put economic pressure on Russia, they've historically shown that Moscow is surprisingly resilient to external pressures [2]. Russia has maintained that it will not succumb to political influence from the sanctions [2]. More importantly, the Western sanctions have so far failed to stop the war [2].
Suspicions Haunt Zelensky
Zelensky described his meeting with Trump as a "good meeting" [2]. However, he's not expecting a quick end to the conflict, evident in his oft-repeated goal for a "reliable and lasting peace that will prevent a new war from breaking out" [2]. Interestingly, Trump is not alone in demanding concessions from Zelensky. The former president has repeatedly called for Ukraine to hand over the Crimean peninsula or other territories lost to Russia [3]. So far, Zelensky has refused such demands [3].
Moscow Makes Advances in Kursk
In a related development, Russian forces claimed to have regained control over the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces [3]. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Ukrainian troops had infiltrated the region in early August last year, capturing dozens of towns [3]. However, the Ukrainian General Staff downplayed the Russian claim as mere "wishful thinking" [3]. Fighting persists between the two sides, as their claims cannot be independently verified [3].
Historically, Russia has used the retaking of the Kursk region as a precondition for negotiations with Ukraine towards peace [3]. For Putin, the breach marked a significant humiliation – not only because it showed the vulnerability of the Russian border but also because it suggested that Russian forces may not be invincible.
Ukraine Battles On
Ukraine views the invasion as an integral part of its defensive struggle against the Russian aggression [4]. Despite three years of intense battles, Western military analysts have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of Kiev's forces [4]. Nevertheless, Ukraine holds steadfast in its effort to protect its territorial integrity against the Russian onslaught.
- Donald Trump
- Ukraine
- Vladimir Putin
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Kursk
[1] Interfax (2025). Russia Ready for Negotiations with Ukraine without Preconditions, Kremlin Says [Online]. Available: https://www.interfax.ro/business/russia-ready-for-negotiations-with-ukraine-without-preconditions-kremlin-says-374586[2] Reuters Staff and Agencies (2025). Trump Threatens Russia with Sanctions, Says Putin May Not Want to End War [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-threatens-russia-sanctions-says-putin-may-not-want-end-war-2025-04-10/[3] The Guardian (2025). Ukrainian Regions: Kursk – Russia Regains Control [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/11/ukrainian-regions-kursk-russia-releases-control[4] BBC News (2025). Zelensky: "Good Meeting" with Trump Leading to "Historic Moment" [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58093251
- The European Union, following discussions with U.S. representatives, expresses readiness to support Ukraine's call for an unconditional ceasefire in the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine.
- Despite Putin's alleged readiness for precondition-free negotiations with Ukraine, questions remain about his genuine intention to end the conflict, as he has consistently demanded the withdrawal of Zelensky's decree banning discussions.
- Russia's claim to have regained control over the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces echoes historical preconditions for negotiations between the two nations, underscoring the complexities of politics and general-news surrounding the region.
- As the dance of war continues, Ukraine battles on with determination to protect its territorial integrity, aided by diplomatic support from the European Union who remain committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
