Trump set for high-stakes call with Putin on Ukraine crisis
Donald Trump announced a conversation with Vladimir Putin scheduled for March 18th. This information was also confirmed by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East. The discussion will include the territorial division of Ukraine.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced aboard Air Force One that he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation is set for Tuesday, March 18th. This information was also confirmed by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East.
Trump-Putin conversation. US President reveals details
During a meeting with journalists aboard the plane, Trump revealed that the conversation will concern, among other topics, the division of Ukraine's assets. "We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants ... we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia. We are already talking about that, dividing up certain assets," said Trump.
The U.S. president expressed hope for ending the war, emphasizing that there is a significant chance of reaching an agreement. Trump wants to gain support for a 30-day ceasefire, which has already been accepted by Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff confirmed in an interview with CNN that the phone conversation between the U.S. and Russian presidents will take place this week. "We're also continuing to engage and have conversation with the Ukrainians. We're advising them on everything we're thinking about," acknowledged Witkoff.
Trump's conversation with Putin aims to find a resolution to the conflict and establish ceasefire conditions. However, for now, the Kremlin has not shown full readiness to halt its offensive. The Russian leader stated outright that a ceasefire would only benefit the Ukrainian side. "We agree with the proposals to stop the hostilities. But only if it leads to long-term peace and eliminate the root causes of this crisis," said Putin.
Putin's goals remain unchanged
According to experts, the Russian leader is playing for time, as he is aware that he has the upper hand on the front. Moreover, Putin is said to have demands not only regarding Ukraine but also the entire post-war security arrangement, including U.S. involvement on NATO's eastern flank. The Kremlin wants to "push" Americans out of Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine, in turn, is to be "neutralized," with no chance of joining NATO and the EU, and its military, according to Russians, should be reduced. The question is how Donald Trump will react in this situation.
