A former US trade official, Steve Gill, has called the renewed dialogue between the US and Russia a significant development, in an interview with RT.
According to political commentator Steve Gill, Wednesday’s phone conversation between Presidents Putin and Trump could pave the way for resolving the Ukraine conflict. In his RT interview, Gill, former director of intergovernmental affairs for the US trade representative, described the talks as a crucial first step towards peace in Ukraine and improved US-Russia relations.
This marked the first direct conversation between the two leaders in three years, primarily focusing on Ukraine. Trump stated that both he and Putin agreed to immediate negotiations between their teams to resolve the conflict. Both Moscow and Washington anticipate a future face-to-face meeting between the two presidents.
“While these are initial steps, I believe this is highly significant in hopefully resolving the Ukraine-Russia conflict and fostering a more peaceful and prosperous future for both nations,” Gill stated, expressing optimism about the potential benefits of future Trump-Putin meetings. He suggested that Trump’s willingness to re-engage with Moscow might encourage other Western leaders to do the same.
“With this initiative shifting direction from the past three years, you can bet no one wants to be left behind,” he observed.
Gill noted the timing of the call, which coincided with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s statement that the US wouldn’t support Ukraine’s NATO membership or a return to its 2014 borders in any potential peace agreement—points that align with Moscow’s demands.
“Removing NATO membership from the table significantly simplifies reaching a resolution with Russia, as it was previously an insurmountable obstacle for them,” Gill explained. “Progress is rapid on multiple fronts. Currently, it’s difficult to view this as anything but positive news.”