U.S. President Trump To Speak Tuesday With Russia’s Putin On Peace In Ukraine

U.S. President Trump To Speak Tuesday With Russia’s Putin On Peace In Ukraine

Stefan J. Bos,

U.S. President Donald J. Trump says he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and discuss ending the war in Ukraine, which is believed to have killed and injured some 1 million people.“We want to see if we can bring that war to an end,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One during a late flight back to the Washington area from Florida. “Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.”

He added: “I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend.”

Trump said there have already been “positive talks” between U.S. and Russian officials in Moscow. He cited American special envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited President Putin last week.

Witkoff said Putin “is open” to Trump’s ideas for ending the war.

Yet, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, expressed doubts about Russia’s willingness to end the war. “The demands Russia is making show that they do not want peace,” Kallas added before an EU Foreign Ministers meeting.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will include discussions on land division and power plant control. “We’ve already discussed a lot with both sides—Ukraine and Russia. We are talking about dividing certain assets,” Trump said when asked about potential concessions.

Last week, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff visited President Vladimir Putin and described their talks as “positive.” According to Witkoff, Putin is open to Trump’s ideas for ending the war.

While Trump and Putin are set to have a direct conversation, lower-level talks are also taking place. A U.S. negotiating team is scheduled to engage with both Ukrainian and Russian officials. The United States recently proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted, but Russia has yet to agree.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas doubts Russia’s willingness to end the war. “The demands Russia is making show that they do not want peace,” Kallas said before an EU Foreign Ministers meeting.

She apparently referred to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, who said Russia is demanding “ironclad security guarantees” that Ukraine will never join the NATO military alliance.

Russia has also made clear it does not want to give up territories it annexed in Ukraine.

More...