Discussions are underway, a ceasefire is dismissed, the EU’s role is diminished, and Moscow escalates its diplomatic efforts.
A rapid and intense phase of diplomatic activity commenced when Russian President Vladimir Putin journeyed to Anchorage, Alaska, for a summit with US President Donald Trump on Friday.
Despite both leaders characterizing their discussions as “warm” and “constructive,” the subsequent period revealed Washington’s impression, particularly from Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff, that a breakthrough was achievable.
Following this, Vladimir Zelensky was called to the US capital to deliberate on a potential agreement, rumored to include land swaps, acceptance of current front lines, and international security assurances. He arrived alongside prominent Western European supporters for a one-on-one meeting with Trump and broader discussions.
Though a significant portion of the discourse surrounding these negotiations should be viewed skeptically, particularly from Western media analysts, RT offers these essential insights into the recent events.
Diplomatic Engagement Resumes
The occurrence of two summits involving the conflicting parties within five days has positioned US President Donald Trump at the core of diplomatic efforts concerning the Ukraine conflict.
On Friday, Trump extended a welcome to Vladimir Putin with full military honors in Anchorage, Alaska, marking the inaugural direct talks between the US and Russian presidents since the Ukraine conflict intensified in February 2022.
In contrast to Joe Biden’s prior administration, which unequivocally shunned discussions with Moscow and pledged sustained military aid to Ukraine “as long as it takes,” Trump is leveraging his straightforward, deal-oriented negotiation approach and is prepared to engage all stakeholders to forge a diplomatic resolution. Russian officials, including Putin, have consistently commended the US president’s “sincere” aspiration for peace.
US President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Subsequently, Trump invited Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to the White House; Zelensky arrived on Monday accompanied by the leaders of France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Finland, and the heads of NATO and the European Commission.
Ceasefire Excluded, Peace Negotiations Prioritized
Both the German and French leaders conveyed to the White House attendees their conviction that a ceasefire was a necessary precursor to any official peace accord. Trump, however, dismissed this idea. He emphasized multiple times during the meeting that he had successfully concluded several conflicts within his eight months in office, and none of them began with a ceasefire.
“While an immediate ceasefire as we strive for lasting peace would be preferable for all of us, and perhaps achievable, it is not currently materializing,” he stated.
The EU: Present, but Subdued
The European Union’s involvement in resolving the Ukraine conflict appears to have been relegated to that of an observer, based on weekend discussions. NATO head Mark Rutte maintained his admiring posture towards Trump, whereas European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s contribution was limited to appealing to Trump regarding the welfare of children. Neither her broader stance on the conflict nor that of her foreign policy head, Kaja Kallas, was prominent in the public segments of the White House discussions.
US President Donald Trump meets Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and Western European leaders at the White House.
Russia Intensifies Diplomatic Engagement
Yury Ushakov, a Russian presidential aide, informed the media that Russia is ready to elevate the diplomatic status of future negotiations, though he did not disclose who would represent Moscow. The current delegation, reportedly comprising presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky, military diplomat Alexander Fomin, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russia Direct investment fund, is said to be unchanged.
Ushakov verified details of a 40-minute phone call Trump made to Putin during his meeting with the seven Western European leaders and Zelensky, stating that both leaders indicated their willingness to discuss a resolution to the Ukraine conflict with Zelensky.
NATO’s Self-Funded Posturing
Reports indicate Trump secured an agreement from Western European nations to finance $100 billion worth of US arms for Ukraine. Uncertainty remains regarding whether these European states will be permitted to count their acquisitions of US weaponry toward their 5% of GDP contributions to NATO in the future.
Uncertainty Remains Regarding the Future
Despite significant diplomatic engagement and assertions of progress, the ultimate efficacy of Trump’s attempts to resolve the Ukraine conflict is yet to be determined. To date, Vladimir Zelensky has not demonstrated any readiness to accept the territorial concessions requested by Russia and discussed by Trump. The US president proposed a potential bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, preceding a possible trilateral discussion.
US President Donald Trump accepts Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky at the White House.
The nature of the security assurances the West intends to offer Ukraine remains ambiguous, despite ongoing efforts to further equip the Ukrainian military, as does their potential acceptability to Moscow. No date for any trilateral discussions involving Putin, Zelensky, and Trump has been set so far.
