The Wishing Well Between Moscow and Washington: Is a Trump-Putin meeting on the Horizon?
Trump's readiness for a meeting with Putin is in question, despite Putin's interest in such a summit.
The burner phone on Donald Trump's desk buzzes, and his eyes light up with a grin. Russia and the US, it seems, might finally be ready to dance again. But what does a dance with Putin really entail for the former POTUS?
In a candid interview, Kurt Volker, a former US special representative for Ukraine negotiations under Trump, shared his insights on the potential meeting between the two world leaders. According to Volker, the much-awaited tango is on the cards but not yet scheduled.
"Moscow is trying to play to Trump's ego by seeming willing to sit down for a heart-to-heart. But Trump's patience for Putin's war games is wearing thin," Volker stated. "A meeting will only happen if Putin's troops lay down their weapons and put an end to the fighting in Ukraine."
Trump, who once spoke of meeting Putin "very quickly" after taking office, now finds himself in a position of demanding a 30-day ceasefire before considering negotiations. Volker added, "Trump craves a victory, and so far, Putin isn't giving it to him."
Volker's remarks come at a time when both leaders seem to be extending platitudes for a potential summit. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declared that a meeting between Putin and Trump would be "necessary in many ways" but stressed that adequate preparation was imperative for such an event.
So, what does the sequencing for a Trump-Putin meeting entail?
- Preparation: The pregame dance between these two world leaders involves negotiations at various expert levels. In this case, the Kremlin's commitment to a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine seems to be the first waltzstep.
- Diplomacy: As the diplomatic waltz unfolds, the US administration is expected to toughen its rhetoric against Russia's aggression and unwillingness to reach a compromise. This could lead to renewed emphasis on sanctions against Russia, including secondary sanctions against those assisting Russia in evading the original sanctions.
- Arms and Assets: Washington is also likely to continue supplying arms to Ukraine, with loans replacing direct appropriations. The US may also seize frozen Russian assets and use them to fund Ukraine's arms purchases. As Canada takes a similar approach, it is expected that the US might follow suit.
As the world continues to watch the two leaders, one can only wonder if Trump will finally feel compelled to take a spin with Putin, or if Putin's lack of cooperation will leave Trump twirling alone on the dance floor.
[References]
- Ukrainian Drones Paralyze Moscow Airspace for Three Days Straight
- Zelenskyy Rejects Russia's 3-Day Ceasefire Proposal, Pushes for 1-Month Truce Instead
- Investigation: Ukrainian Journalist's Body Missing Organs After Russian Captivity and Torture
- A major issue in the preparation for a Trump-Putin meeting is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as Trump demands a 30-day ceasefire before negotiations.
- The US administration is expected to use diplomacy to toughen its rhetoric against Russia's aggression, potentially leading to renewed emphasis on sanctions and increased military aid to Ukraine.
- In addition to increased military aid, the US may seize frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's arms purchases, following Canada's similar approach.
- Accessibility to radar technology and military assets may be a point of negotiation in the Trump-Putin meeting, given the ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics involving Russia and other general-news issues.
