Trump Initiates Ukraine Peace Talks as He and Putin Prepare to Meet
President Trump is planning a meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the Ukraine conflict, with formal negotiations now underway. Trump has appointed a new negotiating team and emphasized the necessity for Ukraine to potentially concede parts of its territory for peace. Discussions are set against the backdrop of significant diplomatic efforts by U.S. officials, while the involvement of U.S. troops in Ukraine remains ruled out.
President Trump has announced plans for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The exact date for the meeting remains undetermined, and notably, Ukraine has not been invited to participate in the talks.
Initiating formal discussions, Trump has appointed a negotiating team following his recent conversations with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These discussions mark a significant escalation in U.S. diplomatic efforts to resolve the nearly three-year-old war, coinciding with the approaching third anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to conclude the war shortly after taking office and has more recently asserted that a resolution could be achievable within six months. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that for peace negotiations to advance, Ukraine may need to relinquish claims over Crimea and reconsider its NATO ambitions. Trump expressed agreement, stating, “I think probably that’s true. I don’t think it’s practical to have it.”
The Kremlin confirmed that Putin extended an invitation for Trump to visit Russia, while Trump suggested reciprocal visits could enhance relations. In a statement, he agreed on the importance of collaboration between their nations and emphasized the necessity for immediate talks between their teams. He also indicated his openness to visiting Ukraine.
Additionally, Trump has revamped his negotiating team, assigning key positions to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Notably excluded from this team is Keith Kellogg, the former special envoy to Russia and Ukraine, who is still involved with administration efforts.
Trump’s call with Putin coincided with the presence of several cabinet members, including Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, in Europe. Vance and Rubio are scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy during the Munich Security Conference. In Brussels, Hegseth reiterated the U.S. stance that the goal of restoring Ukraine’s borders to pre-2014 status is unrealistic, focusing instead on a pragmatic approach to achieving a negotiated settlement.
Hegseth clarified that the U.S. does not foresee Ukraine’s NATO membership as a feasible outcome of negotiations and emphasized that any security guarantees must involve contributions from a coalition of troops beyond U.S. forces. Hegseth stated, “To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine.” Meanwhile, Zelenskyy stressed that any security guarantees lacking U.S. involvement would be inadequate.
In summary, President Trump’s efforts to initiate peace talks regarding the Ukraine conflict include a forthcoming meeting with President Putin and a newly appointed negotiating team. The discussions reflect a shift towards a more proactive U.S. stance in addressing the war, with an emphasis on practical resolutions, including potential concessions from Ukraine. The involvement of various U.S. officials in Europe further underscores the diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation. Trump has clearly stated that U.S. troops will not be part of any security arrangements proposed for Ukraine, which remains a focal point of ongoing negotiations and dialogues. Ultimately, this endeavor underscores the complexity of achieving peace in the region, given the longstanding territorial disputes and geopolitical considerations.
Original Source: www.usatoday.com
