Moscow: The recent phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has yielded a limited but noteworthy outcome concerning the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Russia has agreed to a 30-day cessation of attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, temporarily halting strikes on critical facilities that have been targeted during the ongoing conflict. However, this agreement stops short of a comprehensive ceasefire, as broader cessation of hostilities was conditioned upon the cessation of Western military aid to Kyiv-a stipulation unlikely to be accepted by Ukraine and its allies.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Trump characterized the conversation as productive, emphasizing a mutual desire to end the conflict and indicating ongoing efforts toward a comprehensive peace. Despite this, recent Russian airstrikes targeting Ukraine have raised concerns about Russia’s commitment to the agreement, leading Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to express skepticism and await further details from the U.S. administration.
Analysts suggest that achieving a lasting peace will be a complex and prolonged process, requiring significant diplomatic maneuvers from all sides. The limited nature of the current truce underscores the challenges ahead in negotiating a comprehensive settlement to the conflict. Military and political columnist Oleksandr Kovalenko indicated that Russia’s unrealistic demands and high-stakes approach suggest the Kremlin is stalling negotiations to buy time, accumulate resources, and ultimately disrupt the process.
Igor Korotchenko, Director General of the Caspian Institute for Strategic Studies and a military expert, positively assessed the telephone conversation between the two leaders. He regarded Putin’s agreement to freeze attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days as a demonstration of the Kremlin’s readiness for a practical peaceful settlement. However, he noted that while Russia has pledged not to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the fighting continues with the same intensity.
Vladimir Putin has demanded the cessation of Western military aid to Kyiv, framing it as a necessary condition for de-escalation and potential negotiations. Kovalenko assessed this demand as unrealistic, given the ongoing and likely continued supply of military aid from Western countries to Ukraine. He highlighted that European nations, along with countries like Turkey and India, are likely to maintain their support.
Korotchenko, on the other hand, emphasized the need for the West to halt all military support to Ukraine, suggesting that such support only prolongs the conflict. He also criticized the forced mobilization of men into the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reflecting ongoing tensions between Russia and Western nations.
Ukraine and its allies are closely monitoring the situation and remain cautious. Analysts believe that while negotiations continue, fundamental differences between Russia and Ukraine persist, and a complete resolution of the conflict does not seem imminent. The ongoing differences also extend to the United States and European countries, casting doubt on the early hopes for a quick resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war following Trump’s election. It appears that the conflict will continue for the foreseeable future.