Huge progress on Russia, keep tuned, Trump says day after assembly with Putin
A day after assembly Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump posted a quick and cryptic message on his Fact Social account on Sunday, hinting at a major improvement associated to Russia. “Huge progress on Russia, keep tuned,” Trump wrote, with out providing any additional particulars.
The submit has fueled hypothesis that the US President could also be referring to potential safety ensures for Ukraine, because it coincided with experiences from Trump envoy Steve Witkoff revealing that in the course of the talks, Putin signaled that he can be open to permitting the US and its European allies to supply Ukraine a NATO-style safety assure.
“We acquired to an settlement that the US and different European nations might successfully supply Article 5-like language to cowl a safety assure,” Witkoff mentioned, including that it marked the primary time Putin had proven openness to such an association.
The assembly between the US and Russian leaders concluded with none settlement to cease Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, leaving European governments to think about how one can additional strain the Kremlin.
The 2 presidents spoke for 3 hours and highlighted some factors of settlement, however no main breakthrough was reached to finish the battle that has precipitated tens of 1000’s of deaths and widespread destruction in Ukraine. This was the primary occasion when Putin was allowed on Western soil since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Notably, the submit got here simply minutes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recommended that the current assembly between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin included discussions with the potential to advance efforts to finish the warfare in Ukraine.
“There have been issues mentioned on the Trump-Putin assembly which are potentials for breakthroughs to finish the Ukraine warfare,” Rubio mentioned. Whereas he cautioned towards anticipating a right away decision, he famous, “I’m not saying we’re on the verge of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, however we noticed sufficient motion to justify a follow-up assembly with President Zelenskyy.”
Rubio additionally warned that if a peace settlement can’t be reached, “there should be extra penalties for Russia.”
Rubio additionally added that the US will proceed efforts to assist deliver Russia’s warfare in Ukraine to an finish, however success isn’t assured. In an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation, Rubio acknowledged the boundaries of diplomacy within the present scenario.
“If peace isn’t going to be potential right here and that is simply going to proceed on as a warfare, folks will proceed to die by the 1000’s,” he mentioned. “We might sadly wind up there, however we do not need to wind up there.”
In the meantime, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is about to satisfy Trump in Washington on Monday, accompanied by leaders from Britain, Germany and France. The European leaders goal to assist Zelenskyy as Trump urges Ukraine to simply accept a swift peace settlement.
In keeping with sources cited by Reuters, Trump and Putin mentioned a proposal beneath which Russia would hand over small parts of occupied Ukrainian territory in return for Ukraine conceding a bigger part of fortified land within the east, with the remainder of the entrance traces remaining frozen.
Forward of the assembly in Washington, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks on Sunday to strengthen Zelenskyy’s place. They centered on securing sturdy safety ensures for Ukraine, together with a possible US position.
Talking in Brussels on Sunday, Zelenskyy mentioned peace talks needs to be primarily based on the present entrance traces of the battle with Russia. “We want actual negotiations, which suggests we will begin the place the entrance line is now,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
He known as for a ceasefire as a obligatory step earlier than negotiating a last deal, a view supported by European leaders. “It is necessary that Washington is with us,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned.
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