Talks between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart have been put ‘on hold’ mere days after it was announced. The POTUS had announced plans to meet with Vladimir Putin last week — noting that the two leaders would try to end the war in Ukraine. The back-and-forth over a Trump-Putin meeting is the latest bout of whiplash caused by his stutter-step efforts to resolve a conflict that has persisted for nearly four years. The POTUS had also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the weekend and later suggested “cutting up” the Donbas region to leave it under Russian control.
“I don’t want to have a wasted meeting. I don’t want to have a waste of time — so we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
The decision was reportedly taken after a call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday. Senior White House official insisted that the two officials had a “productive call” without sharing details. Lavrov made clear in public comments on Tuesday that Russia was opposed to an immediate ceasefire.
European leaders also called on Washington earlier today, urging the US to hold firm in demanding an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine — with present battle lines to serve as the basis for any future talks. They have long accused Putin of stalling for time with diplomacy while trying to gain ground on the battlefield. The leaders — including the British prime minister, French president and German chancellor — said they opposed any push to make Ukraine surrender land captured by Russian forces in return for peace. They also plan to push forward with plans to use billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine’s war efforts, despite some misgivings about the legality and consequences of such a step.
‘Give Donbas territory to Russia’
Trump initially focused on pressuring Ukraine to make concessions, but then grew frustrated with Putin’s intransigence. Trump often complains that he thought his good relationship with his Russian counterpart would have made it easier to end the war.Last month, Trump reversed his long-held position that Ukraine would have to give up land and suggested it could win back all the territory it has lost to Russia. But after a phone call with Putin last week and a subsequent meeting with Zelenskyy on Friday, Trump shifted his position again and called on Kyiv and Moscow to “stop where they are” and end the war.On Sunday, Trump said the industrial Donbas region of eastern Ukraine should be “cut up,” leaving most of it in Russian hands.Trump said on Monday that while he thinks it is possible that Ukraine can ultimately defeat Russia, he is now doubtful it will happen.
(With inputs from agencies)