Donald Trump will be holding bilaterals – his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. His aim, in his own words, is to see an end to the current “bloodbath” in Ukraine. The negotiations are taking place as tensions increase and casualties continue to rise in the Israel-Hamas conflict, sparking urgent national and international calls for a ceasefire. Both Trump and European leaders—including the presidents of Ukraine, Moldova and Poland—have voiced optimism about the prospects for peace and a 30-day ceasefire supported by Ukraine’s European allies.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy met with other U.S. officials, including Senator Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. He elaborated on his disappointment with the recent Russian delegation, noting their complete impotence during the peace talks in Istanbul. Zelenskyy told the Council today, we need real, not pretended diplomacy… immediate steps to a complete ceasefire.
“Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible,” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Rubio highlighted the importance of progress in negotiations, stating, “We don’t want to be involved in this process of just endless talks. There has to be some progress, some movement forward.” He restated that the new round of talks should include trade and come to an end to the deaths stemming from the war.
European leaders were already in emergency talks on Sunday to prepare for Trump’s one-on-one meeting with Putin. All five leaders from Britain, Italy, France, Germany and the United States were present. The call between Trump and Putin is scheduled for 5 p.m. Moscow time (10:00 a.m. E.T.) on Monday and will consider the outcomes of last week’s negotiations in Istanbul.
Trump’s muscular, zero-sum approach is a stunning break with previous U.S. administrations. With years of relations with Joe Biden all but severed, communication with the Kremlin has returned to consideration. Biden is getting a bit firmer here too, raising his public warning to Putin. He has suggested that he would be open to imposing additional sanctions on Russia. This should occur if Russia continues to refuse to negotiate in good faith toward a Ukrainian peace.
“The U.S. has presented a strong peace plan and we welcome the Prisoner of War exchange agreement reached in Istanbul. Let’s not miss this huge opportunity. The time for ending this war is now,” – Marco Rubio
As Trump indicated in his recent Truth Social posts, he was hoping for a positive resolution coming out of Monday’s meeting. He stated, “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end.”
What’s not at issue is the urgency of the situation. RUSI’s reports suggest that fatalities are escalating on both the Russian and Ukrainian side. It’s clear that he has promised to obtain peace faster than anyone else and at times seems to imply that he thinks Russia would accept a ceasefire.
The expected conversation between Trump and Putin comes on the heels of a contentious meeting. That meeting resulted in a commitment to exchange POWs, but it found no traction in the larger peace process. Let’s hope both leaders are preparing for their call. Expectations are high for this meeting, which has the potential to produce an agreement that would alter the trajectory of the protracted conflict.
As negotiations continue, everyone will be watching to see what results from Trump’s unusual wooing of both leaders. Many hope that these discussions will pave the way for renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving one of Europe’s most pressing crises.
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