The anticipated phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was inevitable.However, Mr. Trump’s account of their conversation has confirmed Ukraine’s worst fears.There’s no way to soften the impact.
The US leader’s call has significantly shifted the landscape of US-Russia relations, leaving Kyiv feeling marginalized in the key discussions aimed at resolving the conflict.
Mr. Trump’s remarks positioned Mr. Putin as a compatriot, a figure he could engage in negotiations with.
“I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort regarding this call,” President Trump stated.
The leaders also considered the possibility of visiting each other’s nations.
The image of Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump casually walking through the rose garden at the White House over the next four years doesn’t seem entirely far-fetched now.
The order of the US president’s phone calls yesterday reveals a lot about the approach he and his administration plan to take regarding peace negotiations to end the war.
He reached out to Mr. Putin first, instead of contacting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, indicating that the United States will be more attuned to Russia’s stringent demands for halting its invasion.
Mr. Zelensky was informed by Mr. Trump regarding the discussion’s details.
Donald Trump provided Volodymyr Zelensky with insights about his call with Vladimir Putin.
Earlier that day, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in Brussels, articulated the new administration’s stance on Ukraine.
He noted that the US aspires for a “sovereign and prosperous Ukraine,” which must receive security assurances.
Yet, that’s where the positive news for Kyiv concluded.
Mr. Hegseth then laid out three major conclusions: first, the idea of reverting to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is impractical.
Secondly, Ukraine’s accession to NATO is also deemed unrealistic.
Lastly, there will be no deployment of American troops as peacekeepers in Ukraine to uphold a post-war settlement.
He stated that any future peacekeeping mission would not operate as a NATO force and would not be shielded by Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which stipulates that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
Read more: Unlikely Ukraine will regain all territory, says Trump; Any Ukraine deal ‘behind our backs’ won’t be successful – Kallas; Ukraine government and public must be central to peace deal – McGrath; Latest Ukraine updates.
The US is engaging in extensive discussions but seems prepared to take minimal action once the conflict subsides.
With this announcement, the White House signaled that Europe must take on the responsibility of securing post-war peace with their troops on the ground.
Monitoring a 1,300 km demilitarized boundary will be a monumental undertaking requiring tens of thousands of soldiers at a minimum.
Nevertheless, President Trump is keen on a deal that would secure approximately $500 billion worth of minerals from Ukraine.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Kyiv yesterday to discuss a preliminary agreement with Mr. Zelensky and how it would specifically aid in ensuring Ukrainian security.
Mr. Zelensky is scheduled to meet US Vice President JD Vance tomorrow at the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of global leaders to deliberate on defense issues.
There’s no question that the war in Ukraine will be a central topic at this weekend’s event.
US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg will also be present and is expected to discuss details of the proposed US peace initiative for Ukraine with European allies.
US Special Envoy for Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg.
Yesterday’s events will likely have satisfied Mr. Putin, as his conditions are being acknowledged.
Mr. Hegseth’s remarks mentioned two of his requirements: no NATO affiliation for Ukraine and no restoration of the country’s pre-2014 boundaries.
Mr. Putin seeks the total annexation of four eastern Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—even though Russia does not control all of these areas.
This presents an opportunity for Ukraine and Europe to concentrate their efforts on contesting Russia’s demand for total control of these four regions as part of any post-war agreement.
Mr. Kellogg is expected to visit Kyiv before the end of the month to further discuss steps toward peace.
Given the tone of yesterday’s Trump-Putin conversation and the commitment to begin negotiations “immediately,” a potential visit by Mr. Kellogg to Moscow following his discussions in Kyiv cannot be disregarded.
Thus, in one decisive move, Mr. Trump has adjusted US policy regarding the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine is required to concede approximately one-fifth of its territory, at least for the time being, but it may gain from increased American investment and ongoing military backing.
At the Munich conference this weekend, European leaders will advocate for a pivotal role in peace negotiations. Ukraine, the focal point of this situation, will do the same.
