After a telephone conversation with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, president of the United States Donald Trump hopes of a imminent ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. The Russian war is “a bloody bath,” said Trump, “and I believe that he (Putin) wants to end it,” he added.
The Republican besides presented the possible of immediate negotiations in the Vatican on the ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Trump, however, did not give any details and was one more time criticized that his peace efforts deficiency force on Moscow.
Zelenski on withdrawal of troops
The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski stressed that he rejected possible Russian terms of ceasefire, specified as the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the annexed territories in his own country. “If Russia demands the withdrawal of our troops from our land, it means that they do not want a ceasefire and the end of the war”, said Zelenski. “No 1 will retreat our troops from our territory,” he added.
The Kremlin has repeatedly stressed that during the peace talks it advocates the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from 4 partially controlled territories by Russia – Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhia and Chersonia.
For over 3 years Ukraine has resisted Russian invasion with support from the West. However, Kiev and its European allies fear that the U.S. government can halt helping and retreat from peace efforts.
Two-hour conversation
On Monday, May 19, Trump and Putin spoke on the telephone for about 2 hours. At the end of the interview, Trump announced that "the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would begin immediately". Referring to efforts to end the war, he said in the White House: "I think we have a good chance to accomplish this. I think Putin wants it.
However, there are doubts about this relationship. In a later telephone conversation with the European Heads of State and Government, they had the impression that the president of the United States was not ready to force the Kremlin's leader into the negotiating table by exerting more pressure," said the diary "Financial Times", citing a origin acquainted with Trump-Putin's conversation. According to the paper Trump did not talk about further sanctions against Russia either.
Further sanctions against Russia
In an interview with Trump journalists, he explained this, saying that at this phase there was a chance to make advancement in peace efforts – CNN reported.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenski expects Brussels to adopt on Tuesday, May 20, 17th a package of EU sanctions against Russia if this 1 is not ready to halt the war. Zelenski besides hopes for fresh criminal measures from the US. However, these, according to the Financial Times, are not planned yet.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote on X that Europe and the U.S. want “to accompany Ukraine closely on the way to ceasefire”. "Europe will increase force on Moscow through sanctions" was agreed with the president of the United States after his telephone conversation with Putin.
Memorandum with Ukraine
Putin said after talking to Donald Trump that Russia is ready to work on a memorandum with Ukraine that would contain a ceasefire. According to Putin, the most effective way to peace and "fair compromises" must be found. However, he did not say what they should look like.
The president of Ukraine now expects details of the memorandum mentioned by Putin.
According to Russian news agency Tass spokesperson for Kremlin Dmitry Pieskov stressed that there is no time frame to make the memorandum. “There are no deadlines and there cannot be any,” said Doggykov. He added that everyone wants to make advancement as rapidly as possible, but "the devil is in detail." Peskov besides said that the place of fresh contacts with Kiev was not specified, even if the Kremlin knows about the Vatican's proposal.
"Winning for Points" for Putin
Former German Ambassador to Russia, Rüdiger von Fritsch (ambassador from 2014 to 2019) rated Trump-Putin's telephone call as a "win-win-win" for Putin. "For everything we know so far, we cannot say that Russia has moved in any way and that – and this seems even more crucial to me – sees the reason for moving forward," said von Fritsch on the evening ARD tv show. He added that Putin knows Trump is willing to sacrifice much for the end of the conflict – including the interests of Ukraine.
The erstwhile German Ambassador noted that Trump “again” spoke of future American-Russian trade relations. "(Putin) sees dollar signs in Trump's eyes," said von Fritsch, stating that the Kremlin ruler exploits U.S. President's profit lust.
Will Trump meet Putin?
According to Kremlin Putin and Trump, they spoke again about a possible individual meeting. Both presidents are curious in this meeting. But both presidents are besides curious in making this gathering not empty in terms of content, but result-oriented," said Putin's abroad Policy Advisor Yuri Uszakov, quoted by the Russian Information Agency Interfax.
Last week Trump said that before his individual encounter with Putin, he does not anticipate any real moves in talks about Ukraine. Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine took place on Friday, May 16, Turkey – for the first time in 3 years. Both parties agreed to exchange prisoners. However, the large breakthrough did not happen, partially due to the fact that Vladimir Putin, who proposed it, did not participate in the talks. The ceasefire agreement has not been reached.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskia was open to further discussions between high-ranking negotiators from the US, Ukraine, Russia and European countries. specified meetings could take place in Turkey or Switzerland or in the Vatican.
