Zelensky and Trump discuss Russia's sanctions over the phone. - Zelenskyy and Trump discuss Russian embargo measures
In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump have aligned their positions on Russia sanctions, with a ceasefire ultimatum for Russian President Vladimir Putin. If Russia fails to agree to a ceasefire by the deadline, the US has pledged to impose new sanctions on Russia for the first time since Trump returned to office.
The current US plans involve targeting countries buying Russian oil and gas to make it harder for Moscow to finance the war. This strategy could potentially affect major trade partners like India and China, increasing economic pressure on Russia, which Trump and Zelensky believe could influence Putin’s approach to the conflict. Zelensky emphasized that Russia's economy is declining, and new sanctions would be a potent tool to change Russia's mindset about the conflict.
In a bid to find a peaceful resolution, the US has proposed a secret ceasefire plan crafted by Trump’s team. This proposal offers a ceasefire without a formal peace deal for up to 99 years, and phasing out most Western sanctions on Russia in exchange for gradually resuming Russian energy exports to Europe. However, this proposal does not guarantee a frozen territorial status, as the conflict remains unresolved.
The US is also considering the use of secondary sanctions that could target not only Russia but also its major trade partners such as China and India, forcing those countries to choose between access to the US market or maintaining ties with Moscow.
Zelensky has stressed the importance of Europe's involvement in any peace negotiations given the war's location and Ukraine’s ties to the EU. This coordination reflects a multifaceted US strategy combining diplomatic pressure, sanctions targeting the Russian economy and its partners, and conditional ceasefire incentives.
Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy to talks in Moscow, is expected to arrive mid-week. If the deadline passes without result, Trump plans to impose sanctions on Russia. The deadline set by Trump for a ceasefire in Ukraine began last Tuesday and lasts for ten days.
The ongoing situation in Ukraine was discussed between Zelensky and Trump, with Zelensky briefing Trump on the current situation in Ukraine and reporting Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities. Zelensky also highlighted Moscow's sensitivity about the declining economy of Russia.
This coordination between Zelensky and Trump comes before Witkoff's visit to Moscow, signifying a united front against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A meeting between Witkoff and Putin is possible in the Kremlin. Zelensky has expressed confidence in President Trump's resolve regarding sanctions, writing on social media that Moscow is sensitive about the prospects and resolve of President Trump regarding sanctions.
- The European Union, being committed to the implementation of the UN Charter and the UN Charter, is likely to consider the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, as a part of their general-news and policy-and-legislation agenda in the politics sphere, especially given their ties with Ukraine.
- As the US prepares to impose new sanctions on Russia for the first time since President Trump returned to office, it may also consider the implications of its policy-and-legislation on major trade partners like India and China, demonstrating the interconnectivity of global war-and-conflicts and the economies of warring nations.
