Zelenskyy and Trump hold another meeting
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has taken a new turn, with a proposed peace deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin involving a "swapping of territory" between Russia and Ukraine. This proposal, which has raised serious concerns in Ukraine, has been met with resistance from the Ukrainian government, who maintain that any peace agreement should include a complete withdrawal of Russian forces and the retention of all Ukrainian sovereign territory.
According to reports, the conditions agreed upon by Trump and Putin over the weekend include a peace treaty instead of a ceasefire and Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbass. However, no ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is expected after the Alaska summit.
In Ukraine, preparations are underway to continue the war until at least 2026, as indicated by the new government's budget plans. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has been seeking security guarantees backed by the US and has avoided any dangerous territorial compromises during recent summits, aiming to strengthen Ukraine’s position without yielding ground.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, has stated that the ball is in Zelensky's court to end the war. Zelensky, who has previously rejected such demands, could now accept a "reasonable compromise" along the front line. However, the Ukrainian President remains firm on his demands for security guarantees modeled after NATO, a collective defense agreement similar to NATO's.
Meanwhile, Russia remains firm on its demands and unwilling to compromise. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that Russia must have a decisive role in any security guarantees for Ukraine, effectively insisting on a Russian veto over Ukraine’s future security. This reflects Moscow’s lack of interest in a lasting settlement at this stage.
In a surprising development, the Trump-Putin meeting has not increased the likelihood of a swift and just peace in Ukraine. Russia may be forced into talks if China invites, according to Jan van Aken, the leader of the Left Party. Putin has reportedly spoken on the phone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Lula, who expressed willingness to increase engagement, according to Russian media.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the meeting between Zelensky and Trump in Washington is considered crucial by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. The conditions also involve striking NATO membership and the return of Crimea from Kyiv's wishlist, making the negotiations a complex and challenging task.
| Party | Proposed Conditions/Position | Response/Position | |-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Donald Trump | Peace deal with territorial swaps benefiting both Ukraine and Russia | N/A (proposing the deal) | | Vladimir Putin | Russian veto in Ukraine’s security, no peace until military gains | De facto rejection of full peace, continued military action| | Zelenskyy Administration | Retain all Ukrainian sovereign territory, full Russian withdrawal | Rejection of territorial concessions, demands complete sovereignty and security guarantees |
In conclusion, while Trump and Putin have floated ideas involving territory exchanges, Zelensky’s administration remains firmly opposed to ceding any Ukrainian lands and stresses total Russian withdrawal, reflecting ongoing deep divisions over what an acceptable peace settlement would look like.
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