Trump Speaks to Putin Over Ending Russia-Ukraine War
In a bid to bring an end to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, spoke on the phone yesterday. The call comes amid an impasse over the war, with both sides failing to agree on a ceasefire.
The war in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, with Russia having annexed Crimea and supporting separatist rebels in the eastern part of the country. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people. In recent weeks, the situation has escalated, with reports of heavy fighting and shelling in several cities.
The call between Trump and Putin was preceded by comments from US Vice President JD Vance, who said that Trump would ask Putin if he was “serious” about ending the war. “We realise there’s a bit of an impasse here…And I think the President’s going to say to President Putin: ‘Look, are you serious? Are you real about this?'” Vance said.
The call was seen as an attempt by Trump to revive a peace plan that was put forward by France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2019. The plan proposed a ceasefire, the withdrawal of foreign troops, and the establishment of a demilitarized zone in the conflict region.
However, the plan has yet to be implemented, and the situation on the ground remains volatile. Yesterday’s call was seen as a last-ditch effort to revive the plan and bring an end to the conflict.
In a statement following the call, the White House said that Trump and Putin had discussed the situation in Ukraine and “agreed to continue working together to find a peaceful solution”. However, no further details were provided, and it remains unclear what specific steps will be taken to implement the peace plan.
The call was met with a mixed reaction from European leaders, with some welcoming the initiative and others expressing skepticism. European Council President Charles Michel said that the call was a “step in the right direction” and that he was “encouraged” by the discussions. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was more cautious, saying that he was “ready to talk to Putin” but that he needed to see concrete actions before he could trust Russia.
The war in Ukraine has had significant implications for European security, with many countries concerned about the potential for Russian aggression in the region. Yesterday’s call was seen as an attempt by Trump to address these concerns and to reassure European leaders that the US is committed to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.
However, some experts have questioned the effectiveness of the call, given the long-standing distrust between the US and Russia. “It’s difficult to see how a phone call between Trump and Putin will lead to a breakthrough in the conflict,” said Dr. Alexander Cooley, a professor of political science at Barnard College. “The situation on the ground is complex and deeply entrenched, and it will require more than just a phone call to resolve.”
In the meantime, the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, with reports of heavy fighting and shelling in several cities. Yesterday, the OSCE reported that there had been a significant increase in ceasefire violations, with more than 1,000 explosions detected in the past 24 hours.
Despite the challenges, the US and Russia remain committed to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. The two presidents will meet again in the coming weeks, and there are hopes that they will be able to make progress on the issue.
