The results of the Putin-Trump talks are disappointing for Europe.
The fact that things are not going well for Europe, and primarily for Ukraine, was already evident from the fact that it was the Kremlin that first began informing about the results of the Trump-Putin conversation. Then things got worse. Only Russians can rejoice. Because once again, as in the times of the USSR, Moscow and Washington are standing shoulder to shoulder setting the tone for the rest of the world, says Dr. Witold Sokala, an expert in international relations and commentator for the “Daily Law Gazette,” in an interview with Onet. He also emphasizes that there was one peculiarity in the White House’s statements following the leaders’ negotiations.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed that actions to establish peace in Ukraine would begin with a ceasefire targeting energy and infrastructure facilities, and that talks on further steps in the Middle East would begin, the White House said on Tuesday. At the same time, the Russian side stated that a condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict “should be a complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.”
The phone conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin lasted about 120 minutes and ended around 17:30 Polish time. The Kremlin and the White House issued statements indicating that they were unable to agree on a full 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine had agreed to after talks with a U.S. delegation in Saudi Arabia.
Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin. What was decided?
- Vladimir Putin supported the idea of a 30-day suspension of strikes on energy infrastructure facilities, the Kremlin reported. There is some discrepancy compared to the White House statement, which indicated that the ceasefire applies to “energy and infrastructure” facilities.
- On March 19, a prisoner exchange between the Russian and Ukrainian sides will take place, with 175 prisoners exchanged on each side. Russia will also hand over 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv authorities.
- Trump stated that “a key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine must be a complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.”
- New negotiations on the conflict in Ukraine should begin “immediately” in the Middle East, the White House reported.
- During the conversation with Trump, Putin emphasized that “a Ukrainian settlement must take into account the unconditional need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis and Russia’s legitimate security interests.”
- Trump and Putin agreed on the need for negotiations on a ceasefire in the Black Sea.
- The leaders of Russia and the U.S. jointly recognized the Middle East as a key region for cooperation in preventing future conflicts.
“It smells like a second Yalta.”
“Putin takes what he wants, and Trump either does not want or cannot oppose him. Moreover, Putin takes it cleverly, as previously assumed, by saying: yes, we want peace, but… and then adds key conditions for himself. That’s how this conversation looked,” says Dr. Witold Sokala, an expert in international relations and commentator for the “Daily Law Gazette.”
“For example, the issue of suspending strikes on energy infrastructure facilities. Here Putin wins because Ukrainian drones are destroying Russian infrastructure, mainly oil refineries and storage tanks. But when it comes to a ceasefire at sea, further negotiations will be required,” the expert points out.
“The key condition, obviously, is the Kremlin’s demand that the U.S. immediately cease military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. This de facto means Kyiv’s capitulation,” says Dr. Sokala. “I’ll say it straight, this smells like a second Yalta,” he emphasizes.
“There is also a peculiarity in the White House statement,” notes Dr. Sokala. “Namely, the fact that, according to both leaders, ‘this conflict should never have started.’ Well, if such an opinion is expressed by Putin, the aggressor, and Trump agrees with it, then it is absurd.”
“Putin is once again setting the tone for the whole world, as in the times of the USSR. Russians can rejoice.”
“The fact that things are not going well was already evident from the first signals after the Trump-Putin conversation,” says Dr. Sokala. “It was very symbolic that the first statements after the conversation came from the Kremlin. Then things only got worse.”
“Russians can celebrate. Putin has shown them today that, as in the times of the Union, Moscow and Washington are standing shoulder to shoulder setting the tone for the rest of the world,” concludes Dr. Sokala.
