Last year, US President Donald Trump claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within “24 hours.” Recently, he suggested that the conflict could only be resolved through a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following a two-hour phone call with Putin on Monday, Trump stated that any peace agreement would have to be directly negotiated between Russia and Ukraine. This shift highlights the complexities of the ongoing stalemate between the two nations. While Trump announced on social media that Kyiv and Moscow would “immediately start” ceasefire negotiations, Putin rejected a proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire that Ukraine had already accepted. The Russian President has consistently opposed such proposals, arguing that a temporary pause would allow Ukraine to regroup and rearm, insisting instead on addressing what he terms the “root causes” of the conflict.
In February, Trump had declared that peace talks would start “immediately.” However, Kyiv was not invited to the table, which prompted European leaders to support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Both Trump and Zelenskyy have since moved past their widely publicized disputes from late February and recently signed a significant agreement on critical minerals. Washington is now working to facilitate direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. However, the main barriers to peace remain unchanged: Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine and demands that Kyiv cede this territory, which would ultimately be designated as permanently “neutral.” Ukraine insists on a complete Russian withdrawal and aspires for NATO membership as a long-term security guarantee.
There is no quick solution to this conflict. Less than a week ago, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks-initiated by Putin-since 2022 in Istanbul. Although the discussions did not yield substantial progress on territorial issues, the two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each. A Ukrainian delegate described Moscow’s demands as “detached from reality.” Nevertheless, the mere occurrence of these talks is significant. The next essential step is securing an immediate ceasefire to create space for addressing the more challenging aspects of a lasting peace agreement. Notably, Putin reportedly declined to attend the Istanbul meeting, despite an invitation from Zelenskyy. To find a way forward, leadership must prioritize meaningful engagement over optics.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/there-is-no-quick-fix-to-the-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-deadlock-10018439/
Category: Editorials,Opinion
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Publish Date: 2025-05-21 07:55:00
