Trump wants peace, Putin wants the territories. BBC: US-Russia's discussions, little chance to lead to an armistice in Ukraine

While the War in Ukraine is ravaging, behind the scenes is a meeting between Trump and Putin, with the promise of a potential armistice. However, the major differences between the demands of Moscow and the position of the Kiev make the moment of ceasing the fire are very distant.

Preparations are made behind the scenes for Trump and Putin to meet / Photo source: TASS

The Ukraine war, triggered by the large-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022, does not show that it would come to the end, write BCC journalists in a recent analysis.

In the east of Ukraine, Russia continues a slow and bloody advance. Deadly air blows take place almost every night throughout the country, while Russia's refineries and energy installations are constantly attacked by the drones sent by Kiev.

US president wants to end the conflict

In this context, the Kremlin has confirmed that a meeting is being prepared between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which is to take place soon. “I am here to put an end to (no: war)“The US president said on Wednesday.

Trump is preparing a shock summit with Vladimir Putin right next week. Zelenski will be invited to the discussion table. European leaders were informed

Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, organized between May and July, failed to bring the two parties closer to peace, and Trump could hope that, taking control of the situation, could eventually lead to an armistice.

But the enormous distance between Kiev and Moscow's positions makes Trump -mediated negotiations seem insufficient to reach a compromise.

Moscow's requests considered unacceptable by Kyiv

In a memorandum presented to the Ukrainians by Russia in June, Moscow expressed its maximum requests for a “final regulation” of the conflict. These include the recognition of Russian sovereignty on the Ukrainian regions Crimea, Donetk, Luhansk, Zaporojie and Herson, as well as the obligation for Ukraine to demilitize, to remain neutral, not to receive foreign troops and to organize new elections.

“The Russian side can present these requests in dozens of different forms, creating the impression that it is open to serious concessions and negotiations,” wrote the Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaia. “But the basic position remains unchanged: Russia wants Ukraine to surrender.”

US emissary has been back to Moscow to find a solution with Putin

Following a meeting between Putin and the US messenger, Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington better now understands the conditions in which Russia would be willing to end the war.

We do not know if these conditions have changed. But just last week, Putin-most likely referring to that memorandum-said that Russia presented its goals in June and that they remain valid.

Therefore, despite the fact that the Kremlin agrees with a meeting with Trump, there is no reason to believe that Moscow is ready to give up its harsh preconditions.

Vladimir Putin hopes to avoid American sanctions that could hit Russia

One of the hypotheses is that Russia hopes that by engaging in a dialogue, it could avoid the secondary sanctions that Trump threatened to impose on Moscow's trading partners on Friday. The Kremlin could also try to convince Trump of the validity of his requests about the conclusion of the war, the BBC journalists believe.

At the beginning of the second term, Trump seemed closer to Russia than to Ukraine, calling Zeenski a “dictator” and suggesting that he was blaming the war.

Although he subsequently gave signs of Putin – “he takes me with the sugary,” he said in April – Trump avoided saying clearly if he believes that the Russian leader lied about the availability to negotiate an armistice.

Either from a personal affinity or from a common political vision, Trump was reluctant to open Putin for his actions.

When the two met in Helsinki, in 2018, during Trump's first term, many were shocked to see the US president aligning with the Kremlin before the Russian mixing charges in the 2016 US elections and assuming the tensions in bilateral relations.

It is possible that, precisely to prevent Trump from being influenced by Putin, Kiev will want to be present at any negotiations on an armistice.

Through his emissary, Steve Witkoff, Trump also proposed a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenski. But the Russian president rejected these suggestions, saying that the necessary conditions for such a discussion are not met.

Ukraine fears that US could accept Moscow's requests over Kiev's head

More and more voices in Ukraine are afraid that a meeting between Trump and Putin could lead to the American leader of Moscow requests.

Ukrainian deputy Iryna Herashcenko warned that it is increasingly obvious that applications for territorial concessions will be placed on the table and added that the exclusion of the Kiev from the negotiation table would be “very dangerous”.

“Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and is waiting for the same brave approach and from Russia, “President Zelenski said on Thursday.

But the distance between Russia and Ukraine remains huge.

And even if the Kremlin would eventually accept a trilateral meeting, its requests for a armistice are so inflexible that it is unclear what could really be obtained from a direct discussion between Zelenski and Putin.

The Kremlin plays hard: no step back in front of Trump's threats about stopping war. The deadline expires in 48 hours