Seven bargaining chips Trump has given Putin in talks meant to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ukraine disproves Russia’s allegations that it has broken the terms of a ceasefire. Rutte warns Putin of a “devastating” response should Russia launch an attack on a NATO member state.
Seven bargaining chips Trump has given Putin in talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine
In seeking a historic peace accord between Russia and Ukraine, President Donald Trump has presented himself as an agnostic arbiter focused only on bringing the three-year war to an end, Politico said on Monday. The paragraphs below are quoted from the article.
But his divergent approach to the parties — quick to apply pressure on a more vulnerable ally Ukraine, more patience and gentle coaxing for the aggressor in Moscow — reflects his own perception of a stark power imbalance. Ukraine, as he memorably told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last month, doesn’t “have the cards.”
It’s true that Ukraine, dependent on defense aid from Washington and Europe, is in the weaker position should this war of attrition grind on for years. But Trump has done several things to weaken Zelenskyy’s hand.
Politico has listed some of the bargaining chips Trump has given away that could have been used to pressure Russia.
- Giving Putin multiple phone calls after Biden cut him off.
- Holding talks with Russia without Ukraine present.
- Talking explicitly about what Ukraine may have to give up.
- Applying max pressure, but only to Ukraine.
- Ruling out security guarantees for Ukraine and NATO membership in the longer term.
- Ending efforts to hold Russia accountable.
- Both sides-ing the conflict.
The article is available at the link.
Ukraine disproves Russia’s allegations that it has broken terms of ceasefire
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine disproved Russia’s allegations that Ukraine had broken the terms of an agreement to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.
“On March 25-26, Ukraine’s defense forces did not conduct drone strikes on Russia’s energy facilities in Kursk and Bryansk regions or on energy sites in Russia-occupied Crimea,” it said in a statement. “Russia’s defense ministry is spreading false and groundless accusations to protract the war, and continue its lying propaganda campaign and emblematic attempts to fool the world,” the General Staff continued.
Since March 18 Russia has launched eight strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities, Dmytro Lytvyn, communications advisor to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on X on Tuesday. That day, Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin allegedly ordered to pause strikes on energy infrastructure after a call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The United States said Tuesday that it had reached a tentative agreement for Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea in separate talks with both sides. The announcement was made as the U.S. wrapped up three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia.
Both Russia and Ukraine agreed to “develop measures to implement the agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine,” according to the White House readouts.
In its readout on the talks with the U.S., Russia said the ban would last 30 days, as of March 18, “with the possibility of extending and withdrawing from the agreement in case of non-compliance by one of the parties.”
President Zelenskyi has accused Russia of lying about the terms of the agreement. The ceasefire would begin immediately after the White House released the statements, Zelenskyi said.
Rutte warns Putin of “devastating” response should Russia launch attack on NATO
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday stressed that the alliance would always stand by Poland or any other member and that its reaction to an attack would be “devastating.”
“When it comes to the defense of Poland and the general defense of NATO territory, if anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance. Our reaction will be devastating. This has to be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who wants to attack us,” Rutte told a joint news conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a visit to Warsaw on Wednesday.
“These are uncertain times, but let me be clear on one thing: the transatlantic partnership remains the bedrock of our alliance, and this will not change,” he said.
For his part, Tusk said: “No one wants peace more than we do but only a just peace will give us all a sense of security. It’s a condition for the security of Poland, Europe, and NATO.”
He earlier said that the Polish government is working on a plan to prepare large-scale military training for every adult male.
