US President Trump’s Phone Call with Putin and Ukraine’s Leader
US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a historic phone call, sparking a flurry of reactions from experts and media outlets. The call came just as the US and Russia announced a prisoner exchange, with the US releasing a Russian businessman and Russia releasing a US citizen.
According to Trump, the call aimed to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine, with the US President expressing hope that the country might regain some of the lost territories. However, he also stated that a return to the 2014 borders is unlikely and that Ukraine’s NATO membership is impractical, requiring a presidential election.
Trump promised to personally meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia and maintain regular phone contact. The Kremlin’s press secretary, Dmitri Peskow, was more reserved in his assessment, stating that Trump urged a swift end to hostilities and a peaceful solution to the crisis, while Putin emphasized the need to address the root causes of the conflict.
Western media outlets have raised concerns that Ukraine is being left out of the negotiations, with The New York Times suggesting that the country will have little influence. The Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita notes that many in Europe are worried that Trump’s direct talks with Putin will bypass European leaders and Ukraine, effectively ending Putin’s isolation.
The article highlights the lack of concrete results, with only a prisoner exchange and no peace plan announced. The US has provided Ukraine with significant military aid, but Trump wants it repaid, citing the country’s rich natural resources, including rare earth metals, oil and gas.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has expressed a willingness to negotiate, but with conditions, including the return of Russian-occupied territories and the demilitarization of Ukraine. He also wants to discuss the country’s natural resources and potential investments from the US.
Experts are divided on the prospects of a peace deal, with some seeing the call as a positive step, while others warn that quick results are unlikely. The situation remains uncertain, with the US, Russia and Ukraine still at odds over the conflict’s resolution.