Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Russia-Ukraine war
US President Donald Trump, a day before his highly expected meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, has expressed a tremendous respect towards Zelensky, despite the fact that he had made contentious remarks about the Ukrainian president being a "dictator." In a recent BBC interview, Trump debunked the chances of his having said such a thing, questioning, "Did I say that? I can't believe I said that," and called Zelensky "very brave." The meeting between the two leaders comes after significant diplomatic breakthroughs in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump stated efforts at brokering peace between the two nations were underway, referencing a "very good meeting" with Zelensky in the works.
This phone call is a breakthrough as Trump's tone has shifted from his previous allegations of Zelensky being responsible for stalling the conflict and demanding that he seek peace talks sooner. In his previous statements, Trump had claimed, "You've been there for three years. You should have ended it. You should have never started it." However, his position on this softened as he agreed on the necessity of peace and was optimistic about the future negotiations. Trump's more diplomatic tone, in contrast with his earlier fault-finding with Zelensky's part in the conflict, suggests a willingness to engage in productive negotiations with the view to ending the present war.
One of the most significant issues for President Zelensky during his visit to Washington is to secure security guarantees for Ukraine as a component of any peace settlement with Russia. Though Trump committed to no specific security arrangements, he stated that he was "open to many things" in pursuit of a peace agreement. Additionally, during his meeting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump outlined the requirement for US access to Ukrainian rare earth mineral resources. Trump suggested that the presence of US mining companies in Ukraine would act as a deterrent to Russia from further aggression in the future, describing it as a "backstop" to ensure the country's safety.
While the US continues to be at the helm of peace talks, the UK has offered to assist with peacekeeping efforts after the war. Prime Minister Starmer made it clear that the UK would be ready to deploy troops to Ukraine if NATO, specifically the US, were to offer a "backstop." Trump, recognizing the capability of the British military, reaffirmed the support of the US for the UK if required, though he was confident in the capability of the British forces to deal with any threat. NATO's Article 5, which pledges member nations to the defense of an ally under attack, remains a central tenet of the alliance's defense policy. Britain has demanded a peace deal that does not reward Russian aggression or encourage other authoritarian regimes like Iran.
The international community remains divided on the prospects for peace. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, although doubtful of Russia's willingness to negotiate, highlighted that any peace agreement must involve not only Ukraine but also the European powers. As global leaders grapple with balancing supporting Ukraine and seeking peace, it remains to be seen how the upcoming meetings between Trump, Zelensky, and other global leaders will impact Ukraine's future and the path to a lasting peace. While the war has lasted more than three years, the conversation between the US and Ukraine marks a new chapter of international diplomacy, with hopes for an end to the war sometime in the future growing the longer that the war continues.
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