President Trump welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to Elmendorf-Richardson Base Base Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. During his flight to Alaska, Trump said his top priority was a cease-fire in the Russian-Ukraine war. After meeting Putin, Trump said that a cease-fire was not essential and that he was better to ask for a permanent peace agreement.
Images Andrew Harnik / Getty North America
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Images Andrew Harnik / Getty North America
Kyiv-When President Trump went to Alaska for his summit with Russian chief Vladimir Putin, Trump said the main objective was a cease-fire. He said he would be disappointed if it did not happen and warned against “serious consequences”.
But shortly after meeting Putin, Trump reversed and said that a ceasefire in the Russian-Ukraine war was not critical. He wrote on social networks that “he was determined by all that the best way to put an end to the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a simple cease-fire agreement, which would not often keep”.
Trump’s new position align with Putin and disagrees him with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – who went to the White House on Monday.
Zelenskyy’s latest visit to the White House on February 28, came into a lively dispute between the Ukrainian chef and Trump with the rolling cameras. Trump told Zelenskyy that “you don’t have the cards right now” and that the Ukrainian chief should make concessions with Russia to prevent the total destruction of his country.
Since this diplomatic disaster, Zelenskyy and Ukraine have worked hard to rebuild the relationship with Trump, and that seemed to work. The Ukrainians constantly praise Trump’s peace efforts. When Trump put pressure for an agreement that would give the United States access to precious Ukrainian minerals, the Ukrainians agreed.
When Trump started to put pressure on a ceasefire several months ago, the Ukrainians approved this decision. Putin did not do it, and Trump became openly critical and has become more and more frustrated, to the point of threatening additional sanctions.
But Putin and Trump seemed to be in excellent terms at the summit on Friday. Although they have not announced a breakthrough, Trump is now looking to be on the side of Putin with regard to the critical question of pursuing an immediate cease-fire compared to a complete peace agreement, which would take long negotiations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the president’s position on the NBC Meet the press with Kristen Welker.
“We have been asking for a ceasefire for a long time,” said Rubio. “The only way to have a ceasefire is that the two parties agree to stop shooting each other, and the Russians simply did not accept this.”
Zelenskyy will receive additional support during Monday visit. Several European leaders will go with him to Washington to help plead for Western support in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy met on Sunday in Brussels with the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, one of those who accompanied her.
“We have agreed on the need for a cease-fire for subsequent diplomatic stages, effective safety guarantees for Ukraine and continuous pressure of sanctions on Russia,” said Zelenskyy on X.
Why Ukraine promotes an immediate cease-fire
Ukraine wants a ceasefire for several reasons. First, it would be the fastest and most realistic way to stop the short -term fights.
Ukraine has had no relief from Russian attacks since the large -scale invasion in February 2022, and all respite would be welcome. The Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine with offensive operations on the ground in eastern Ukraine and with nighttime strikes of drones and missiles across the country.
Ukraine affirms that the two parties first need a cease-fire and can then sit down and negotiate the much more complicated terms of a permanent peace agreement.
“Our vision is first of all a ceasefire, then everything else,” said Serhiy Leshchenko, advisor to Zelenskyy, on Ukrainian television. “If we negotiate before the ceasefire, it creates a great risk for Ukraine. If there is a cease-fire, this opens up space for diplomats.”
Ukraine also fears that constantly ceaselessly, Putin continues to buy time and drag the war. According to Ukrainian leaders, Putin thinks that time is for his part and he intends to continue to fight until he wins what he wants on the battlefield, or obtains concessions from Ukraine.
A ceasefire, say the Ukrainians, would force Putin to negotiate.
The approach of Russia to negotiations
At the top of Alaska, Putin again raised her favorite point of discussion – that the “deep causes” of the conflict must be addressed for lasting peace. This includes a large list of requests that Russia could not make on the battlefield.
Russia now controls almost 20% of the Ukrainian territory, but calls on Ukraine to abandon additional land which it still has in the eastern part of the country, in the Donbas region. Russia wants to guarantee that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO. Russia also wants an agreement that would greatly restrict the future size of the Ukrainian army.
Ukraine rejects all these requests and affirms that negotiations on a complete peace agreement would be nowhere, while the fighting would tighten.
From the point of view of Russia, accepting a cease-fire could cost the Russian army its momentum in the fighting, where Russia has achieved additional gains in the last two years, although an extremely high cost of victims. A truce would reduce the current lever of Russia and facilitate pressure on Ukraine.
“Everything will concern what Ukrainians can live.”
In the wake of the Alaska summit, diplomatic debate is now focusing on the advisability of working for a short-term ceasefire or a permanent peace agreement. He will be fully exposed when Trump and Zelenskyy meet on Monday in the White House.
