Trump and Putin in talks as Russia seeks peace

A sense of urgency was apparent while the US President talked to one of the country’s leading newspapers about ending the Russia Ukraine war. However, the number of times Trump spoke to Putin and also when and how of the talks was still unclear, despite flaunting a ‘good relationship’ with the Russian counterpart.

A clarification was however sought from the National Security Council by one of the news channels.

Within 24 hours of his takeover as new US President, Trump had hoped to end the conflict as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov while talking to a news channel said that he will be unable to either deny or confirm the news.

Adding further, he said that as the Trump administration was gaining a foothold, Washington and Moscow engaged through different channels.

Peskov clarified, “Of course, against the background of the multiplicity of these communications, I personally may not know something, be unaware of something. Therefore, in this case, I can neither confirm nor deny it,” he said.

Trump skeptical about Putin’s seriousness toward peace

Expressing hope that Putin wished to end the war, Trump sounded despondent on the latter’s vagaries.  “I hope it’s fast. He told a US newspaper, “Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing,” he told one of the US newspapers.

The US President earlier this week said that there was a lot of progress on the issue of ending the war.

Referring to a 10% price hike in Russia, Trump said that great economic damage had been done to Russia by the war. But he also hoped for a deal between him and Putin to end it.

He also pointed out towards huge casualties on both sides with about a staggering 700,000 Russians either killed or injured in the war. Trump added further, “he’s not doing so well. I mean, he’s grinding it out… it’s not making him look very good… I think he would be well off to end that war.”

About the upcoming meeting between the two premiers, Trump said, “could be very soon.” He also added that the war between Ukraine and Russia should have never started.” Comments coming from him have been very critical about Putin and this also indicates the White House’s awareness about Russia being under pressure and intentions to exploit that to broker a deal.

Trump’s focus on Russian economic mismanagement and the Kremlin’s tolerance of horrific casualty rates means the US is all set to go for a time-bound deal.

While traveling in Air Force One to Florida during the interview, Trump was eager for diplomatic talks. He further notified his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz about the urgency of such meetings. Trump is expecting to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming week and also hold talks with his Russian counterpart.

In what is supposed to be a proposition towards a business deal worth $500 million, Vice President J.D. Vance is scheduled to meet Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference. The deal includes access to Ukrainian rare-earth minerals and gas by the US in exchange for continued American assistance to the country.

However, another US newspaper talked about the US ‘security guarantees in any potential peace agreement,’ while Trump compared Europe’s avoidance of the same aid to Ukraine.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine, where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earths and other things.” The situation is still unclear with Trump’s assertions regarding brokering the peace deal between Kyiv and the Kremlin as serious discussions are missing.

On the other hand, Trump’s intentions about the continued US military assistance are also under cloud, which he himself was insisting earlier to be stopped at any cost.

On the other hand, tensions are rife between Europe and Trump with uncertainty looming large over a possible Trump somersault regarding a proposed, yet controversial peace agreement. Many are hopeful, especially the NATO countries about meaningful negotiations to end the war in Eurasia. All this, including the possible business deal with Ukraine, will be the focal point during the coming meeting in Munich.

Trump’s former ambassador to Bosnia and later the associate director of the German-American Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Munich, Eric Nelson said, “I would hope that the administration would pursue a more balanced and calculated approach to Ukraine.” He further added, “One hopes that Trump would be very much relying on expert advice on that conflict.”