Diplomatic Hopes Dim for Trump as Ukraine-Russia Talks Stall
Washington — President Donald Trump began the week with high hopes, claiming he was making strides toward facilitating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. He announced that he had set the stage for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
However, by the end of the week, Trump’s optimism took a hit. Russia’s top diplomat indicated that Putin would not meet with Zelenskyy until Ukraine agrees to certain long-standing demands from Moscow.
This setback is disappointing for Trump, who has consistently promised to resolve the conflict on his first day in office. On Friday, he hinted that he would decide on his next steps within two weeks if the talks do not progress. He suggested the possibility of imposing new sanctions or tariffs on Russia, something he has previously discussed but hasn’t acted on.
“We’re going to see whether or not they have a meeting,” Trump said during an Oval Office appearance. “If they don’t, I’ll know what I’m going to do.”
A Promising Start Turns Uncertain
Early in the week, Trump announced he had begun discussions to facilitate a summit between Putin and Zelenskyy after talks with European leaders and a call with Putin. European officials expressed relief at the president’s assurances of support for Ukraine’s security.
Yet, as the week progressed, doubts grew about Russia’s willingness to engage. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that while Putin is open to meeting Zelenskyy, significant issues need to be settled by senior officials first, suggesting a lengthy negotiation process ahead.
“There is no meeting planned,” Lavrov noted, emphasizing that a clear agenda is required.
Security Concerns Linger
Ukraine seeks security guarantees from Western countries to safeguard against future threats from Russia. However, Lavrov remarked that creating such arrangements without Russia’s involvement would be futile.
Meanwhile, Putin’s activities raised eyebrows when he visited a significant site for Russia’s nuclear weapons program, underscoring Russia’s military stature.
Despite Trump’s peace efforts, Russia escalated its military actions, launching substantial attacks on Ukraine just days after Trump’s announcement of peace talks. Zelenskyy remarked that it seems Russia is more interested in prolonging the war than negotiating peace.
Warning from European Leaders
The European Union’s foreign policy chief warned that any discussions about Ukraine conceding territory to Russia as part of peace talks could be a trap set by Putin. Offering such concessions would mean rewarding an aggressor, according to Kaja Kallas.
She pointed out that the discourse focuses excessively on what Ukraine might concede, while ignoring that Russia has made no sacrifices and continues its aggressive actions.
“Russia is just dragging its feet,” Kallas asserted. “It’s clear that Russia does not want peace, despite President Trump’s call for the violence to stop.”
