Monday agreed to the White House between the Russian President and the Ukrainian President
The Russians, however, were skeptical. Kremlin’s adviser, Yuri Usakov, said he was considering rising the level of representatives on both sides, but without confirming the participation of the leaders themselves.
For his part, the Russian Foreign Minister held a more reconciliation attitude in an interview. “, Neither bilateral nor trilateral. Any contact involving senior officials must be prepared with the utmost care, ”he added.
Will Putin speak with a “anecdote”?
This attitude is not surprising. In terms of Kremlin, this means that they are not ready to agree on this.
Russia considers Ukraine an integral part of its own history and culture. So, if the Putin-Chalenski meeting takes place, says Mountain Lutsevic, director of the program for Russia and Eurasia of Chatham House, Putin “should accept his failure and sit down to speak with a president who calls” a joke “.
It would also be a major attitude that the Russian president would have to explain to his citizens. “He has been brainwashed, via television, to the Russians that Zelensky is Nazi and illegal, that (Ukraine) is a puppet of the West. So why talk to him suddenly? ” wondered.
The Kremlin not only challenges the legality of the Ukrainian leader, insisting on postponing the elections to Ukraine, which is illegal under military law, but in its latest “peace” renovation requires Ukraine to hold elections before signed any final peace.
Putin and other Russian officials rarely refer to Zelenski in his name, preferring the nickname “Kiev’s regime”. And let’s not forget that it was Zelenski who traveled to Turkey for the first direct conversations between the two sides in mid -May, just for Putin to send a delegation led by a history textbook writer!
Is Trump the key to change?
Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior associate at Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and founder of R.Politik, who analyzes Russia, argues that while Putin does not consider a meeting with Zelenski in a war for Russia more to do so.
“The main demands must be on the table and Zelenski should want to talk about them,” he told CNN on Tuesday. So far, Zelenski has ruled out the basic demands, including the concession of territories that Ukraine is still controlling. But, as Stanovaya argues, Putin sees Trump as the key to change.
“Trump is regarded as a supporter of the Russian perspective for resolving and therefore the United States is supposed to work with Kiev to push them to be more flexible, more open to Russian demands,” he said.
Stanovaya said Russia could try to keep the US on its side by doing what Usakov suggested, and proposing a new round of talks in Constantinople, but with a higher level delegation, perhaps including Usakov and Foreign Minister. But Putin will not risk falling into a trap sitting on a table with Zelenski just to find that all his requests were rejected.
To whom will Trump take responsibility?
Trump ended on Monday by posting on Truth Social that “the procedures for a meeting began … between President Putin and President Zelenski”. Until Tuesday morning, when she appeared on a breakfast broadcast on Fox News, she realized she realized that she was not sure. “Somehow I set it up with Putin and Zelenski, and you know, they have to make the decisions. We are 7,000 miles away, “he said.
Putin has no reason to consent right now. Having zero concessions, it has been rewarded with a magnificent meeting in Alaska, withdrawing Trump’s demand for a ceasefire before the peace talks and the weakening of all penalties to date.
If Trump’s pressure on Zelenski has not delivered the results that Moscow wants, there is always the military force as a backup. The only unknown element of Russia right now is to whom Trump will take responsibility if this last peace attempt fails.
