Ukrainian President Supports Trump’s Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed support on Wednesday for Donald Trump’s suggestion to pause the current front lines in the ongoing war, allowing both sides to pursue a long-term peace agreement. During a brief visit to Oslo, Norway, Zelenskyy mentioned that Trump proposed initiating dialogue while maintaining the existing positions.
He remarked, “I think it was a good compromise, but I’m not sure if President Putin will agree to it. I communicated this to the president.” Earlier this week, the U.S. president stated that while negotiations for the future could take place, he urged for an immediate halt to the conflict.
However, the Russian government quickly dismissed this idea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear on Tuesday that any plans to stop the fighting were off the table, claiming that Russia seeks only a “long-term, sustainable peace.”
No Immediate Plans for Trump-Putin Meeting
In a related context, a senior official indicated there are “no plans” for a meeting between Trump and Putin soon. Lavrov echoed this sentiment, stating, “Washington is now saying we have to stop [the conflict]. We shouldn’t discuss anything further and should let history decide.” He suggested that simply standing still might mean losing sight of the underlying issues that caused the conflict in the first place.
As it stands, Russia continues to demand full control of Ukraine’s Donbass region, which it already dominates about 90% of as of August.
Last week, Trump met with Zelenskiy at the White House, where it appeared he turned down Ukraine’s request for Tomahawk long-range missiles. The conversation took place before a diplomatic attempt between Washington and Moscow fell apart.
Concerns Over Future Meetings
After this week’s discussions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to lay the groundwork for a potential Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary. Nevertheless, the White House later expressed that meeting was unnecessary, as both sides remain significantly apart in their views.
Trump expressed hesitance about rushing into talks with the Russian leader, being cautious due to the previous failed summit in Alaska. “I don’t want to have a useless meeting. I don’t want to waste time until I see what happens,” he stated.
Proposed Ceasefire Plan from NATO
NATO chief Mark Rutte is in Washington on Wednesday for discussions at the White House, expected to propose a new ceasefire plan for Europe. Additionally, eleven European leaders signed a statement affirming the need to freeze the current battle lines as a basis for further negotiations.
