Ukraine Russia Direct Talks to begin IMMEDIATELY /Lt Daniel Davis & Andrei Martyanov

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President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a two-hour phone call, followed by Trump speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, EU leaders like Ursula von der Leyen, and others. Trump expressed enthusiasm afterward, suggesting Russia and Ukraine would start ceasefire negotiations. Putin, on the other hand, seemed neutral or mildly optimistic, sticking to familiar positions.

Key Takeaways:

Putin’s Stance Unchanged: The Russian side, including top officials like Yuri Ushakov and Dmitry Peskov, reiterated long-standing demands: no ceasefire until the “root causes” of the conflict are addressed. They consider NATO expansion and Western betrayal (e.g., Minsk Agreements) as key issues.

Minsk Agreements Distrust: Russians believe they were deceived by the West during previous ceasefire deals (e.g., Minsk), which were allegedly used to arm Ukraine rather than resolve conflict. Statements from leaders like Angela Merkel have reinforced this perception.

No Planned Putin-Trump Meeting: The Kremlin confirmed no meeting between Trump and Putin is being arranged, despite some U.S. media suggesting otherwise.

Trump’s Alternate Reality: Analysts argue Trump misunderstands the situation, assuming that a ceasefire is imminent and believing false narratives about Russia's military losses or economic collapse. They claim he is poorly briefed and still tries to act as a neutral mediator, despite U.S. involvement.

Russian Diplomacy View: Putin may have spoken politely during the call, but experts believe he was likely firm and uncompromising behind diplomatic language.

Negotiation Sequence Disagreement: The West, including Trump, often argues ceasefire first, then negotiations. Russia insists it must be the opposite: address root causes first, then possibly a ceasefire.

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