Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he takes former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about ending the Ukraine war seriously. However, he mentioned that he is not aware of Trump’s specific plans for achieving this and noted that understanding these proposals is crucial.
Despite this, Putin expressed his belief in Trump’s sincerity and said that Russia would support any genuine efforts to end the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with Bloomberg TV, urged Trump to reveal his plans for ending the war. Zelenskyy emphasized that any proposal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty. This call for transparency came in light of Trump’s statements that he could quickly end the ongoing war if he wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Trump’s Unclear Proposals
As of now, Trump has not detailed how he would bring an end to the conflict, which has been ongoing for three years. Reports from Politico suggest that Trump might propose a deal with Russia, where NATO would agree not to expand further east, including into Ukraine and Georgia. This speculation is based on insights from two national security experts close to Trump.
Putin reiterated his demands for peace talks, stating that Ukraine must withdraw from four eastern regions currently partly occupied by Russian forces. Additionally, Ukraine would need to pledge never to join NATO. These terms have been outrightly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies.
No Cease-Fire Without Agreement
During a news conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, Putin made it clear that Russia would not agree to a cease-fire without Ukraine taking “irreversible” steps as demanded by Moscow. He did not specify what these steps would entail but stressed that a cease-fire would be impossible without such agreements.
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Putin also mentioned that Russia would not resume talks with the U.S. on strategic stability until after the U.S. presidential election. He stated that it was essential to understand the positions of the future U.S. administration before engaging in further discussions.
Europe’s Position on Supporting Ukraine
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, expressed concerns about the future of military support for Ukraine without U.S. backing. Speaking at a meeting in Madrid, Borrell acknowledged the challenges Europe would face in continuing to support Ukraine militarily if the U.S. withdraws its support. He questioned whether there is sufficient political will in Europe to sustain this support independently.
While Putin is open to Trump’s potential proposals for ending the Ukraine war, the specifics of such plans remain unclear. Both Ukrainian and European leaders have voiced their concerns and conditions, highlighting the complexity and high stakes of the ongoing conflict.
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