In a recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump seized upon Putin’s conditional pledge to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days. This announcement offers Trump a platform to claim progress toward peace in Ukraine, even as the broader conflict continues unabated.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that he could effectively end what he has called the ‘very horrible war’, but the recent developments suggest otherwise. Although Putin’s gesture can be interpreted as a sign of potential relief for civilians in Ukraine, it falls significantly short of the full, unqualified ceasefire that the United States has sought.
Before the call, Trump positioned the conversation with Putin as a potentially game-changing opportunity. However, the results have proven to be underwhelming. Reports indicate the discussion lasted over two hours, with both leaders engaging in a range of topics, including light-hearted chatter about ice hockey, showing an apparent ease in relations that many observers find troubling given Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s narrative describes the conversation as congenial, leaving no doubt that Russia views its reinstatement in dialogue with a U.S. administration positively, especially after years of international isolation following its invasion of Ukraine.
The current situation reveals a stark contrast between the optimistic portrayal of the call and the reality on the ground. Despite Russia’s claims of wanting peace, tangible steps towards a ceasefire remain elusive. Instead, Russia continues to impose conditions that seem to further entrench its position, including demands for the cessation of military and intelligence support for Ukraine from its allies. This has raised alarm bells in Kyiv, where officials interpret such demands as evidence that Russia is consolidating its efforts to undermine Ukrainian resistance rather than seeking a genuine resolution to the conflict.
For the time being, Ukrainians hold onto a sliver of hope—namely, that the U.S. has not acquiesced to Russia’s additional conditions. Nevertheless, the breakthrough many had hoped for remains out of reach.
In essence, while Trump may tout the conversation with Putin as a diplomatic success, the call’s outcomes may ultimately disappoint not only U.S. aspirations but also those in Ukraine who continue to suffer in the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin is undoubtedly enjoying this renewed interaction with the U.S., a scenario that seemed out of reach before Trump’s return to the presidency.