In a significant development, US President Donald Trump has announced the commencement of negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This decision follows a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
Trump shared details of the conversation on his Truth Social platform, stating that both leaders have “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately.” The dialogue marked a crucial step toward a potential resolution, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing his hope for a “lasting, reliable peace” after discussing the situation with Trump.
Impact of NATO membership discussions
The calls between Trump and the involved parties come at a time when both the US President and his Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, indicated that Ukraine’s accession to NATO is unlikely—a revelation that could be disappointing for Kyiv.
During a defense summit scheduled for Friday in Munich, Zelensky is set to meet with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In a social media post, Trump emphasized the urgency of ending what he termed a “ridiculous War,” referencing the extensive loss of life and destruction, stating, “God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!”
While Trump did not specify a date for a potential in-person meeting with Putin, he stated to reporters at the White House, “We’ll meet in Saudi Arabia,” and mentioned mutual invitations to each other’s capitals.
European involvement and ongoing conflict dynamics
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin is supportive of Trump’s inclination towards collaboration. The phone conversation reportedly lasted nearly an hour and a half, during which Putin extended an invitation for Trump to visit Moscow.
Trump later acknowledged to reporters the challenges of restoring Ukraine’s borders to their pre-2014 state, adding that “some of that land will come back.” The US President aligned with Defense Secretary Hegseth’s earlier statements at a NATO summit regarding the improbability of Ukraine joining the military alliance.
In a tandem effort, seven European nations, including Britain, France, and Germany, have asserted their intention to play a pivotal role in future negotiations concerning Ukraine’s situation. Their joint statement following a Paris meeting underscored the necessity of positioning Ukraine favorably in these discussions, stating, “Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations.” They are advocating for robust security guarantees for Ukraine and are eager to engage in further dialogue with their American counterparts.
Despite the new administration’s more reserved stance towards Ukraine compared to its predecessor, the expressions from Trump and Hegseth are likely to resonate positively in Moscow. Zelensky has consistently emphasized that “there can be no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine,” yet the Trump-Putin discussion suggests otherwise.
The resilience of Ukrainian forces, bolstered by Western support, has thwarted expectations of a swift Russian victory following the invasion. However, the path to achieving a “just peace,” as articulated by Zelensky, remains fraught with obstacles.
“No one wants peace more than Ukraine. Together with the US, we are charting our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting, reliable peace,” Zelensky stated.
The Ukrainian president reported that his dialogue with Trump was a “good and detailed discussion” covering a wide range of topics. He also connected with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was visiting Kyiv at the time. Zelensky emphasized the need for US involvement, asserting, “Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees.”
Trump alluded to the political future of Ukraine, hinting at the upcoming election as Zelensky’s term approaches its conclusion in May 2024. However, Zelensky pointed out that the ongoing Russian invasion and the imposition of martial law render any new presidential elections unfeasible.
Since the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president in 2014, Moscow’s actions have included the annexation of Crimea and support for separatist factions in eastern Ukraine, leading to a protracted and bloody conflict that escalated into a full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. While Russian advances initially threatened Kyiv, they have since managed to capture approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory in the eastern and southern regions, alongside widespread air strikes throughout the country. Ukraine has retaliated with its own military actions, including artillery and drone strikes, as well as a ground offensive in the west.
Despite the difficulty in obtaining accurate casualty figures due to the secrecy maintained by both sides, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands have been killed or injured, with millions of Ukrainian civilians displaced as refugees.