They have not been seen for six years: Donald Trump could meet Vladimir Putin in the flesh in the next few days to try to end the war in Ukraine launched by Russia.
The discussions examined closely while the fighting in Ukraine intensified and the ultimatum of Donald Trump, who had given his Russian counterpart for 10 days to find a high fire agreement, is brilliant this Friday, August 8.
• An “agreement in principle”
His last meeting dates back to June 2019 outside a G20 summit in Japan, during the first mandate of the Republican President. This Thursday, August 7, Donald Trump said he was ready to see Vladimir Putin, while the Kremlin announced that he had found an “agreement in principle” for a meeting “in the next few days.”
The US president resumed to contact his Russian counterpart in February after his return to the White House, hoping to stop the war caused in 2022 quickly by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
But, given the blockade of negotiations between Moscow and kyiv, it has been increasingly frustrated against Vladimir Putin, throwing an ultimatum to find an exit to the conflict, under the penalty of the new US sanctions.
While this Ultimátum is expected to expire on Friday, diplomatic efforts have accelerated this week and Donald Trump’s emissary, Steve Witkoff, was received on Wednesday, August 5 by Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.
• Without a specific date, the location not revealed
If the Kremlin and the White House speak of a physical meeting “very soon” and “in the next few days”, a specific date has not been publicly communicated. The same as the chosen place.
Vladimir Putin said Thursday, along with his counterpart Emiratí whom he received in Moscow, Mohammed Ben Zayed, that the United Arab Emirates could welcome their meeting with Donald Trump.
However, this possibility has not yet been confirmed by Washington. An American official of the White House, who spoke under anonymity, said Thursday that the place of the meeting had not yet been decided and could take place next week.
He asked Thursday at the Oval office, Donald Trump did not provide more elements at the place of a meeting.
• Donald Trump’s ultimatum pending
With respect to the maintenance or not of his ultimatum launched in Moscow that must expire on Friday, the US president dodged: “It will depend on Putin, we will see what he will say.”
“Very disappointed,” he continued, seems to talk about his Russian counterpart. In July, it had already been said “disappointed” on several occasions by the head of the Kremlin.
Therefore, the United States decisions about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could take shape after the meeting between the White House tenant and the head of the Kremlin.
Among the lines, Donald Trump, therefore, gives a new delay and a new opportunity for Russia to respond, but also leaves an exit if their threats fall into the water. “I will do my best to end the murders,” added Donald Trump, who seems to be very committed to finding a high fire agreement.
• Volodymyr Zelensky not invited
For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a meeting between him and Vladimir Putin is a “priority.” He believes that “it is legitimate that Ukraine participates in negotiations” in a tripartite format.
But the Russian leader refuses to see his Ukrainian counterpart, believing that the “conditions” are not fulfilled for a tête-à-tête: Moscow judges that such an encounter makes only sense in the final phase of the peace negotiations.
As for Donald Trump, his answer was clear: in the question if he thought that Vladimir Putin had to talk to Volodymyr Zelensky before he met him, the US president replied “no.”
The two leaders “would like to meet me, and I will do my best to stop the murder,” he added.
The Ukrainian head of state spoke Thursday by telephone on Thursday with Donald Trump, a conversation in which several European leaders had participated. Volodymyr Zelensky has requested that Europeans be included in the peace negotiations on Ukraine, of which so far have remained remote despite the efforts of Paris, Berlin and London.
• Irreconcilable positions
Between Russia and Ukraine, positions are still in antipodes. The last cycle of direct negotiations in Istanbul in July had only led to a new exchange of prisoners and soldiers. At the same time, Russia continues its fatal air attacks against Ukraine, where they nibble every day in the front.
Moscow states that Ukraine gives him four partially occupied regions (those of Donetsk, Lougansk, Zaporijjia and Kherson), in addition to the Crimea attached in 2014, and that renounces the deliveries of Western weapons and any membership in NATO.
Unacceptable requirements for kyiv, who wants the withdrawal of Russian troops and western security guarantees, including the search for weapons deliveries and the deployment of a European contingent, which is opposed to Russia.
Ukraine also asks, in concert with its European allies, a high 30 -day fire, which the Russians reject.
Source: BFM TV
