U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal” aimed at ending ongoing conflict in the region. Jetting into Rome for the funeral of his close friend Pope Francis, he penned these words. He reiterated his desire to reduce the growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The war, including the ongoing fighting in Ukraine, has produced nearly 5,000 killed or wounded on Ukrainian and Russian troops per week.
Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Roughly a week before Trump’s comments, another very important meeting was taking place in Moscow. America’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks, which lasted for three hours, were described as “extremely beneficial” by Putin’s chief aide, Yuri Ushakov. Though Trump’s optimism about a peace deal may have been misplaced, the international community has continued to work toward a resolution to mitigate the ongoing conflict.
The next day, Trump reiterated his promise to put a stop to the war in Ukraine. He says this is imperative for keeping people from dying. He even stated that they were “very near” to obtaining a peace accord. Under the proposed deal, those terms would be particularly inflammatory. It would enable Russia to retain control over all territory it occupied during the war, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.
“I think what caused the war to start was when they [Ukraine] started talking about joining NATO.” – Donald Trump
Trump’s peace plan is said to offer American legal acceptance of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and recognition of its control over other occupied territories. One thing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been crystal clear about is that there’s no way Russia should get to keep Crimea. He stated that issues related to territory could only be discussed after a “full and unconditional ceasefire” is in place.
Zelensky’s administration has maintained a steadfast position regarding territorial integrity, insisting that only the Ukrainian people have the authority to determine which areas belong to Ukraine. In a recent press release, he repeated that assertion. He pointed out that any negotiations on territory go through focusing on ending the violence first.
“Our position is unchanged – only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian.” – Volodymyr Zelensky
Trump’s administration pushed the economic cooperation agreement known as the Rare Earths Deal. He spoke about his continued diplomatic efforts to encourage peace. This agreement would lock in a long-term investment for the U.S. in Ukraine’s major reserves of natural assets. The original timetable for reaching the deal was February. It was derailed after an explosive administration meeting between Trump and Zelensky in Washington.
Indeed, at the time that Trump made this call, Zelensky hadn’t even signed the final papers on this important agreement. Of especially strong interest to the U.S. are rare earth elements. These elements have become essential for advanced technology industries and defense applications.
“Most of the major points are agreed to.” – Donald Trump
Though many questions remain about the peace talks and joint economic declarations, Trump said that he was optimistic about successful negotiations. Finally, he underscored the importance of U.S. officials continuing to speak in public and private with Putin. These negotiations can lead to positive agreements, like new trade deals and tariff reductions.
The humanitarian disaster is worsening with every instance of conflict that’s allowed to go unchecked. In an unusual rebuttal to the former president, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine had already agreed to Trump’s ceasefire proposal more than 45 days ago. This ceasefire extends into the air, water, and front line. He underscored the fact that, without proper military assistance, Ukraine does not have what it takes to retake the Crimean Peninsula.
“What President Trump says is true, and I agree with him in that today we do not have enough weapons to return control over the Crimean peninsula.” – Volodymyr Zelensky
Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, including its unlawful annexation of Crimea and other aggressive acts, undermines regional security. It has profound implications for global security dynamics. Neither side is willing to budge from their respective corners. This greatly diminishes the chances of a negotiated peaceful outcome.
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