US President Donald Trump has set a two-week deadline to evaluate the progress of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
In a telephone interview with Newsmax host Todd Starnes, Trump stated, “I would say within two weeks we’re going to know one way or the other.” He added that if no progress is made, the US might need to take a different approach, saying, “after that, we’ll have to maybe take a different tack.”
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to avoid a meeting between the two leaders, stating, “current signals from Russia are, to be honest, indecent. They’re trying to avoid the necessity to meet. They don’t want to end this war.”
He also criticized Russia’s recent air attack on Ukraine, which hit eleven different locations, killing at least one person and injuring more than a dozen in the western city of Lviv.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for clarity on security guarantees, saying, “We need to understand which country will be ready to do what at each specific moment.”
He urged Western allies to provide a clear understanding of the security guarantees architecture within seven to ten days.
European leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and French President Emmanuel Macron, have echoed concerns about Putin’s willingness to engage in peace talks.
Stubb described Putin as “rarely to be trusted,” while Macron called him “a predator, and an ogre at our doorstep,” expressing significant doubts about his willingness to work towards peace.
Despite these concerns, Zelenskyy remains open to meeting Putin “in any format.” However, he noted that there is still no indication from Moscow that they intend to engage in substantive negotiations.
The EU’s top diplomat has warned against pushing Ukraine to give up territories to Russia as part of a future peace deal, calling it “a trap that Putin wants us to walk into.”
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief negotiator, emphasized the importance of establishing credible and robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
The situation on the ground remains dire, with Russia continuing its attacks on Ukraine. The EU has put together the 19th package of sanctions to pressure the Russian leader into further discussions.
As the situation unfolds, the international community will be watching closely to see if Russia will engage in meaningful negotiations or continue its aggression.