“Trump ends to Trump.” He may suffer a vulnerable diplomatic defeat
After Kiev refused to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio dismissed their meeting with European and Ukrainian officials. One of the American officials provided anonymity said that “After Zelanski's rejection of peaceful anger in Trump, he was huge.” These words are confirmed by the statement of the US President.
“A man without playing cards. Ukraine's situation is tragic, can have peace now or can fight for three more years until he loses the whole country,” Trump wrote in a pole on Truth Social, hitting the president of Ukraine directly.
Donald Trump wants a quick peace agreement – preferably if it was concluded until April 30. Then he could attribute a diplomatic victory during the first 100 days of office. Vladimir Putin seems to be delayed. In the face of pressure, however, he announced the unexpected Easter suspension of weapons – although many European diplomats consider this to be an image maneuver to calm Trump.
What's more, a few days ago “Financial Times” wrote that Putin proposed the “freezing” of the invasion. As part of it, Russia would preserve Ukrainian territories over which it controls. Moscow also strives to recognize Crimea as Russian. Sources close to the Kremlin claim that this proposal was presented to Witkoff during his last visit to Moscow.
What does the Kremlin really want?
Russian officials run a double game. On the one hand, they send signals that they are open to negotiations, on the other hand they issue raw warnings. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pieskov said that Russia categorically opposes any presence of European troops in Ukraine, even in the form of a peace mission. Walentyna Matwijenko, head of the higher Chamber of Russian parliament, said the same.
“Russia will never take part in negotiations that will assume the presence of European troops on the territory of Ukraine,” she said.
Konstantin Remchukow, a journalist similar to the government, in the newspaper “Niezawisimaja Gazieta” wrote that Putin would stop the offensive only after the expulsion of all Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region. Another source, cited by “The Guardian”, revealed that the Kremlin leader did not give up his ambitions to take over the total control over four Ukrainian regions, which in 2022 announced “part of Russia”.
Trump ends with time. Russia pretends to be negotiating
In this game, Trump wants a diplomatic trophy.
– We made a clear proposal and the time has come for the Russians and Ukrainians to say “yes” or that the US would withdraw from this trial – said JD Vance, US Vice President. However, the Kremlin seems to be ignored by pressure. Pieskow publicly advised Trump to try to “quickly resolve the conflict”.
– Putin seems undecided in what to do: whether to leave Trump or still use him to achieve his goals? – says Aleksander Baunow, a Think Tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analyst. Even if he fails, Russia will not lose much.
– If the US abandon the role of a mediator, things will go like before, and in many cases they developed in favor of Moscow – adds Baunow.
For now, Putin is preparing for the next meeting with the envoy of Trump and perhaps another symbolic gift. Last month he gave him a kitschy portrait of the US president.
