Regaining Diplomatic Ground: United States and Russia Discuss Paths to Peace in Ukraine
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump expressed increased optimism regarding the possibility of reaching a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This sentiment emerged following high-level discussions held on February 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between US and Russian representatives, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"I think I have the power to end this war," Trump stated during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence. He hinted at the potential for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future, indicating his openness to European proposals for peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. "If they want to do that, I'm all for it," Trump remarked, although he clarified that the US would not be contributing troops to any such contingent.
Amid ongoing tensions, Trump addressed concerns raised by Ukraine regarding their exclusion from the talks, reiterating his belief that had he been president in 2022, he would have successfully forged a deal with Russia to avert the invasion. "You should have never started it," Trump advised Ukraine, suggesting they could have negotiated peace prior to the conflict escalating.
Kyiv has insisted that negotiations to end the war should not occur without their involvement, a point Trump seemed to dismiss as he proposed that Ukraine should hold elections. He asserted that such a suggestion came not only from him but also from various international actors. However, this idea collides with Ukraine's constitutional constraints, as elections cannot be conducted under the current martial law imposed since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
The recent talks in Riyadh resulted in both the US and Russia agreeing to form teams aimed at negotiating a resolution to the war. Rubio emphasized that both sides would need to make concessions, and potential involvement from the European Union is anticipated due to the sanctions placed on Russia stemming from the conflict. He argued that for substantial peace talks to occur, improving diplomatic conditions at embassies is crucial.
Moreover, concerns are burgeoning among European leaders regarding fundamental shifts in US policies towards Russia, as they fear that Washington may be willing to concede significant terms that could alter the continent's security architecture.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had scheduled a visit to Saudi Arabia for February 19 to further discuss the crisis, he postponed the trip, highlighting that any discussions about ending the conflict must be equitable and involve European nations, including Turkey, which has offered to mediate further negotiations.
US national security advisor Michael Waltz emphasized that any postwar peace guarantees would need to be led by Europe, aligning with growing calls for European allies to bolster their defense expenditures. European leaders demonstrated a collective commitment towards providing security guarantees to Ukraine during a summit in Paris on February 17, albeit cautioning that the sufficiency of such assurances will hinge on the extent of US involvement in a comprehensive peace agreement.
In an upcoming meeting set to take place in France on February 19, additional discussions on the war in Ukraine and European security commitments will involve Canada and other European nations that were absent from the previous summit. This gathering may further pave the way for enhanced collaboration and strategic discourse aimed at finally resolving the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
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