Peace negotiations. The Ukrainian attitude enraged the US. “The anger in Trump’s ellipse was huge”

"Man without playing cards. Ukraine's situation is tragic, it can have peace now or can fight for 3 more years until it loses the full country," Trump wrote in a post on fact Social, hitting straight the president of Ukraine.

Donald Trump wants a fast peace agreement, preferably by April 30. Then he could claim a diplomatic triumph in the first 100 days of office. Vladimir Putin seems to be stalling. In the face of pressure, however, he announced An unexpected Easter ceasefire — Although many European diplomats consider it an image maneuver to calm Trump.

Moreover, a fewer days ago, “Financial Times” wrote that Putin proposed “freezing” the invasion. Within this framework Russia would hold the Ukrainian territories over which it exercises control. Moscow besides seeks to recognise Crimea as Russian. Sources close to Kremlin say this proposal was presented to Witkoff during his last visit to Moscow.

What does the Kremlin truly want?

Russian officials run a double game. On the 1 hand, they send signals that they are open to negotiations, on the other, they issue severe warnings. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Pieskov said that Russia categorically opposes any presence of European troops in Ukraine, even in the form of a peace mission. That's what Valentina Matvijenko, head of the advanced chamber of the Russian Parliament, said.

“ Russia will never participate in negotiations that will presume the presence of European troops in Ukraine,” she said.

Konstantin Remchukov, a writer close to the government, wrote in the paper “Nizawisimaja Gazieta” that Putin would halt the offensive only after the expulsion of all Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region. Another source, as quoted by The Guardian, revealed that the Kremlin's leader did not quit his ambition to take full control of the 4 Ukrainian regions which he announced in 2022 “part of Russia”.

Trump's moving out of time. Russia pretends to negociate

In this nerve game, Trump wants a diplomatic trophy.

— We made a clear proposal and it is time for the Russians and Ukrainians to say yes or to retreat from this process," said J.D. Vance, Vice president of the United States. However, the Kremlin seems to ignore the pressure. Peskov publically advised Trump to effort a "fast resolution of the conflict".

“Putin seems undecided in what to do: whether to leave Trump or to proceed utilizing him to accomplish his goals?” says Aleksander Baunow, think tank analyst Carnegie Endowment for global Peace. Even if he doesn't succeed, Russia won't lose much.

— If the U.S. resigns as a mediator, things will go as before and in many cases make in favour of Moscow, adds Baunow.

Bye. Putin is preparing for another gathering with Trump's envoy And possibly another symbolic gift. Last month, he gave him a kitschy image of the president of the United States.