Kremlin Sees Trump-Putin Call as Turning Point in Ukraine War
Moscow, Russia – The Kremlin views US President Donald Trump’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week as a turning point in the Ukraine conflict.
"This is a signal that we are now trying to clarify things through dialogue and talk about peace – not war," Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told Pyotr Sarubin, a Kremlin-aligned correspondent for state television.
Peskov lamented that Western leaders had previously refused talks with Russia, opting instead to prolong the war. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
According to Peskov, a planned meeting between Trump and Putin requires extensive preparation due to the strained bilateral relations caused by the previous US administration. He declined to specify a date for the meeting. Saudi Arabia has been mentioned as a potential venue for a summit between the two leaders to discuss ending the war.
Peskov acknowledged the possibility of an agreement but reiterated Russia’s accusation that the West violated the Minsk agreements, which froze fighting in Ukraine in 2014-2015. He emphasized that Russia will draw lessons from this experience in future negotiations while asserting that the country has "learned to pursue its interests."
Three years ago, Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, claiming that NATO’s planned expansion into the country threatened Russia’s security and that Kyiv was oppressing the Russian-speaking minority in eastern Ukraine. The war has claimed an estimated hundreds of thousands of lives, including many civilians, primarily in the Russian-speaking region of Ukraine.
Western Perspective
Western leaders have condemned Russia’s invasion and imposed sanctions on Moscow, while providing military aid to Ukraine. They have rejected Russia’s claims about NATO and the Russian-speaking minority in Ukraine, accusing Russia of aggression and human rights violations.
Western governments have also criticized the Minsk agreements, arguing that Russia has violated them and used them as a cover for its continued military presence in Ukraine.
Trump’s Call and Future Prospects
While Peskov’s comments suggest a potential shift in Russia’s approach, it remains unclear whether Trump’s call will lead to substantial progress towards ending the war.
Trump has expressed admiration for Putin in the past and has been critical of NATO. However, he has also supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and condemned Russia’s invasion.
The future of the Trump-Putin meeting and the prospects for a negotiated settlement of the Ukraine conflict hinge on complex geopolitical factors, including the evolving relationship between the United States and Russia, the resilience of Ukrainian resistance, and the willingness of both sides to compromise.
