Judging by some of the headlines today in Russia, Moscow believes that the latest telephone conversation between Presidents Putin and Trump went well – certainly for the Kremlin.
“Putin and Trump agreed to work together on Ukraine resolution,” concludes Izvestia.
“Record-long Putin-Trump call,” declares Komsomolskaya Pravda. The paper’s website adds: “As things stand Russia has scored a diplomatic victory here.”
Why are some in Russia claiming “victory” after this two-hour phone call?
Probably because, by the end of it, Vladimir Putin hadn’t been pressured into making any major concessions to Ukraine or to the United States. On the contrary, he had – in effect – rejected President Trump’s idea of an immediate unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
Instead of pressuring Moscow with the threat of even tougher sanctions and penalties, to get Russia to sign up to its plan, the US administration reacted by praising the Kremlin leader.
“We had a great call,” Donald Trump told Fox News.
“I would commend President Putin for all he did today on that call to move his country close to a final peace deal,” said Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.
Not only did Moscow not agree to an unconditional ceasefire, President Putin set his own pre-conditions for peace. They include an end to Western military aid to Kyiv and intelligence sharing with the Ukrainians, as well as a halt to mobilisation in Ukraine. Such conditions are widely viewed as a way of securing Ukraine’s capitulation.
It’s hard to see Kyiv agreeing to any of that.
Credit: bbc.com
