Trump Hints at Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks with Russia, But Next Steps Remain Uncertain
Image Source: Internet
US President Donald Trump has revealed that a recent meeting between his envoys and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on a peace plan for the Ukraine conflict was 'very good', but has cautioned that the outcome remains unclear. According to AFP, Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Putin for five hours at the Kremlin, but no breakthrough was achieved. Trump said Putin appeared willing to end the war, but the US president also acknowledged that it's too early to determine the outcome of the talks. Ukraine and its European allies have accused Putin of feigning interest in peace efforts, with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calling on him to 'end the bluster and bloodshed' and support a 'just and lasting peace'. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Putin to 'stop wasting the world's time'. Witkoff and Kushner are set to meet with Ukraine's lead negotiator in Miami on Thursday, in an effort to further discuss a peace proposal that was made public last month. However, the proposal has been met with criticism from European leaders, who fear that granting Putin some of his core demands could embolden him to threaten their countries. As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, European leaders are increasingly concerned about the potential consequences of a Russian victory in the conflict. With the threat of incursions from Russian drones and fighter jets already a reality, many are warning that Putin's ambitions in Ukraine must be addressed through diplomatic efforts, not military might.
