Trump-Putin Talks Ahead: Will They Agree on a Ceasefire?
U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, following successful talks between U.S. and Russian officials...
TroibNews 
U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, following successful talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Moscow.
"We're doing pretty well, I think, with Russia," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington on Sunday evening. "I'll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work's been done over the weekend."
Trump, who is seeking Putin's backing for a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine accepted last week, mentioned that discussions will include topics related to land and power plants.
"We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants," Trump explained. "I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia."
Zhao Junjie, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, indicated that the upcoming talks will primarily center on redrawing Ukraine's territorial boundaries. He noted that Russia may present territorial claims and demands regarding ownership of nuclear power plants, which could lead to significant disagreements between the two nations.
Comparing the situation to the zero-sum game dynamics often seen in Western politics, Zhao remarked that for Ukraine, any concession on territory might provoke a negative response from the public and media. "Overall, negotiating land exchanges remains one of the most challenging aspects of the talks," he said. "Whoever holds the advantage will gain certain benefits, potentially receiving compensation or even territorial concessions."
The U.S. and Russia have been engaging in regular dialogue lately. About a month ago, Trump and Putin spoke on the phone regarding the situation in Ukraine and the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Trump advocated for an expeditious ceasefire and a peaceful resolution, while Putin highlighted the necessity of addressing the underlying causes of the conflict. The two leaders also agreed to maintain communication and plan for future meetings.
Subsequent to their conversation, high-ranking officials from both countries began intensive consultations. On February 18, U.S. and Russian delegations convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they committed to working towards concluding the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict and restoring bilateral relations.
Following this meeting, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff characterized the discussions as "positive, upbeat and constructive." Conversely, the Kremlin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov referred to the discussions as a "serious discussion of all key issues."
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, both parties agreed to establish a consultation mechanism to "address irritants" in their bilateral relationship and strive towards normalizing diplomatic operations.
High-level teams will be appointed to begin "working on a path" to resolve the conflict in Ukraine as swiftly as possible.
Considering the current landscape, Zhao expressed confidence that significant progress could be made during Tuesday's discussions. "Russia has paid a heavy price in the ongoing conflict, while Ukraine continues to suffer daily troop losses. Both sides have reached a point where seeking peace and reconciliation has become necessary," Zhao stated.
He added that with the new U.S. administration potentially modifying its approach to the conflicts, if Washington pushes for an end, both Russia and Ukraine will likely be compelled to cooperate.
In addition to addressing the Ukraine situation, recent U.S.-Russia talks have also aimed at restoring bilateral relations.
On February 27, discussions between U.S. and Russian delegations regarding bilateral matters and improving ties concluded in Istanbul. The meeting, which lasted over six hours, covered sensitive issues such as the status of Russian diplomatic properties in the U.S., particularly involving the return of six properties "illegally seized" between 2016 and 2018.
Following the talks, the U.S. Department of State reported that constructive discussions had led the two sides to identify specific initial steps to stabilize their bilateral mission's operations.
"The U.S. and Russia could be entering a new era of global cooperation," Zhao observed. He elaborated that if Trump seeks to rebuild ties with Russia, negotiations might encompass topics such as nuclear weapons, amendments to the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, personnel security, and the supply of strategic materials. These discussions could potentially alleviate tensions between Russia and the EU, fostering momentum toward resolving the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
However, Zhao cautioned that if the two sides remain entrenched on key issues, achieving peace will become significantly more difficult.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
"We're doing pretty well, I think, with Russia," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington on Sunday evening. "I'll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work's been done over the weekend."
Trump, who is seeking Putin's backing for a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine accepted last week, mentioned that discussions will include topics related to land and power plants.
"We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants," Trump explained. "I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia."
Zhao Junjie, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, indicated that the upcoming talks will primarily center on redrawing Ukraine's territorial boundaries. He noted that Russia may present territorial claims and demands regarding ownership of nuclear power plants, which could lead to significant disagreements between the two nations.
Comparing the situation to the zero-sum game dynamics often seen in Western politics, Zhao remarked that for Ukraine, any concession on territory might provoke a negative response from the public and media. "Overall, negotiating land exchanges remains one of the most challenging aspects of the talks," he said. "Whoever holds the advantage will gain certain benefits, potentially receiving compensation or even territorial concessions."
The U.S. and Russia have been engaging in regular dialogue lately. About a month ago, Trump and Putin spoke on the phone regarding the situation in Ukraine and the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Trump advocated for an expeditious ceasefire and a peaceful resolution, while Putin highlighted the necessity of addressing the underlying causes of the conflict. The two leaders also agreed to maintain communication and plan for future meetings.
Subsequent to their conversation, high-ranking officials from both countries began intensive consultations. On February 18, U.S. and Russian delegations convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they committed to working towards concluding the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict and restoring bilateral relations.
Following this meeting, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff characterized the discussions as "positive, upbeat and constructive." Conversely, the Kremlin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov referred to the discussions as a "serious discussion of all key issues."
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, both parties agreed to establish a consultation mechanism to "address irritants" in their bilateral relationship and strive towards normalizing diplomatic operations.
High-level teams will be appointed to begin "working on a path" to resolve the conflict in Ukraine as swiftly as possible.
Considering the current landscape, Zhao expressed confidence that significant progress could be made during Tuesday's discussions. "Russia has paid a heavy price in the ongoing conflict, while Ukraine continues to suffer daily troop losses. Both sides have reached a point where seeking peace and reconciliation has become necessary," Zhao stated.
He added that with the new U.S. administration potentially modifying its approach to the conflicts, if Washington pushes for an end, both Russia and Ukraine will likely be compelled to cooperate.
In addition to addressing the Ukraine situation, recent U.S.-Russia talks have also aimed at restoring bilateral relations.
On February 27, discussions between U.S. and Russian delegations regarding bilateral matters and improving ties concluded in Istanbul. The meeting, which lasted over six hours, covered sensitive issues such as the status of Russian diplomatic properties in the U.S., particularly involving the return of six properties "illegally seized" between 2016 and 2018.
Following the talks, the U.S. Department of State reported that constructive discussions had led the two sides to identify specific initial steps to stabilize their bilateral mission's operations.
"The U.S. and Russia could be entering a new era of global cooperation," Zhao observed. He elaborated that if Trump seeks to rebuild ties with Russia, negotiations might encompass topics such as nuclear weapons, amendments to the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, personnel security, and the supply of strategic materials. These discussions could potentially alleviate tensions between Russia and the EU, fostering momentum toward resolving the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
However, Zhao cautioned that if the two sides remain entrenched on key issues, achieving peace will become significantly more difficult.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
