Trump and Putin Begin Ukraine Peace Talks

Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff

I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Russia-Ukraine war

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Image Source: Mark Stone

Former US President Donald Trump announced that he had a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they committed to beginning peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the two leaders both told their staff to begin negotiating at once. This was preceded by a phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, where they talked about getting a "lasting, reliable peace." Trump and his defense secretary, however, emphasized that Ukraine's chance of joining NATO was far fetched, and this could be a disappointment for Kyiv.

Plans for Future Meetings and Reactions

At the meeting, Putin invited Trump to visit Moscow, and Trump invited Putin to Washington. Trump later told reporters that they would meet in Saudi Arabia but would not state a date. Meanwhile, Zelensky assured he would sit down with American officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at a defense summit in Munich. European leaders, including Britain, France, and Germany, insisted that they be party to any future talks on the future of Ukraine. They emphasized the need for strong security guarantees for Ukraine and urged the U.S. to cooperate in searching for a solution.

Concerns Over Peace Talks

Though there have been welcome words for Trump's peace effort, there are still questions about Putin's intentions. Ukrainian lawmaker Kira Rudik was skeptical, wondering if Russia is actually interested in peace. The issue of lost territory remains sensitive, with Trump reading from the script that Ukraine will not regain all its pre 2014 lands. Zelensky had proposed a potential exchange of territories, but Russia rejected it flat. Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia will not discuss the surrender of its land, claiming that Ukrainian forces would be pushed out of Russian held territory.

The Role of the U.S. in Ukraine’s Security

Zelensky stressed that security guarantees to Ukraine must include the U.S. since guarantees from Europe would not be enough. He also excluded the holding of a new presidential election during the ongoing war and martial law. Trump indirectly proposed the holding of an election in Ukraine, but Zelensky maintains that the circumstances do not call for it. The future of the talks is unclear, with differing views on Ukraine's territorial integrity and security assurances. However, Trump's overtures to Putin suggest a potential shift in diplomatic initiatives to bring the war to an end.