U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to engage in conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, with the aim of discussing a potential resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This follows productive discussions between U.S. and Russian diplomats in Moscow.
During a flight back to Washington from Florida, Trump shared his thoughts with reporters, stating, “We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.” He emphasized the importance of dialogue, adding, “I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend.”
The former president is seeking to gain Putin’s support for a 30-day ceasefire proposal, which Ukraine accepted last week. This comes as both nations have engaged in considerable aerial strikes over the weekend, with Russia intensifying its efforts to displace Ukrainian forces in the western region of Kursk.
When pressed on possible concessions during ceasefire negotiations, Trump mentioned, “We’ll be talking about land. We’ll be talking about power plants… We’re already talking about that, dividing up certain assets.” While details were sparse, he likely alluded to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, where both nations have raised alarm over actions that could inadvertently lead to a disaster.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would indeed hold talks with Trump but refrained from commenting on Trump’s remarks regarding land and energy resources. Recently, the Kremlin indicated that Putin had conveyed a message about the ceasefire proposal to Trump through U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, expressing “cautious optimism” about reaching a resolution to the three-year conflict.
In separate appearances on U.S. television, Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stressed that several challenges remain before a ceasefire is achievable, let alone a lasting peaceful resolution. When asked on ABC whether the U.S. might accept a peace deal that allows Russia to retain territories it has taken, Waltz thoughtfully replied, “We have to ask ourselves, is it in our national interest? Is it realistic?… Are we going to drive every Russian off of every inch of Ukrainian soil?” He further noted, “We can talk about what is right or wrong but also have to talk about the reality of the situation on the ground,” warning that the absence of compromise could lead to “endless warfare” or even escalate to World War Three.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed renewed hope for an end to the conflict following Kyiv’s acceptance of the U.S. ceasefire proposal. However, he has consistently maintained that Ukraine’s sovereignty remains non-negotiable, insisting that Russia must relinquish control of the territories it has seized since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and further incursions since 2022.
Comments from Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko highlight Russia’s stance for “ironclad” guarantees in any peace agreement, including assurances that NATO will exclude Kyiv’s membership and that Ukraine will remain neutral. “We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement,” Grushko stated.
Putin has framed his military actions in Ukraine as measures to safeguard Russia’s national security against what he perceives as an aggressive West, particularly in light of NATO’s expansion. Conversely, Ukraine and its allies have characterized Russia’s actions as an unprovoked war of aggression and an imperial conquest.
Key demands from Moscow include the cessation of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, Russia retaining control over all seized territories, limitations on Ukraine’s military size, the easing of Western sanctions, and the timing of elections in Ukraine—which Kyiv argues would be inappropriate while martial law is in place.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, remarked that the conditions set by Russia indicate a lack of earnestness in pursuing peace. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted that European allies, alongside the U.S., are enhancing preparations to support Ukraine in the event of a potential ceasefire agreement with Russia. Both the U.K. and France have expressed willingness to send peacekeeping forces to oversee any ceasefire, a notion that Russia rejects until the war concludes.
In response, Grushko asserted, “If they appear there, it means that they are deployed in the conflict zone with all the consequences for these contingents as parties to the conflict.” He continued, suggesting that while unarmed observers or civilian missions could monitor compliance with ceasefire terms, any discussion of immediate peacekeeping forces is merely “hot air.”
In closing, the situation remains dynamic and complex, with ongoing diplomatic efforts intertwined with intensely contested military actions.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
