Experts have warned that a looming meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will not stop the ‘Kremlin’s warmongering’
On a dramatic day yesterday, President Trump had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Putin in which the leaders agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine “immediately”.
Senior lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma’s international affairs committee, claimed the meeting could take place soon, as early as in February or March in Saudi Arabia, according to Russian state news agency RIA.
However, Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya claims Putin is simply “flattering” and “appeasing” Trump and is fully prepared for the talks to fail.
The Kremlin believes that “there is nothing the West can do that would reverse Russia’s territorial gains and prevent Ukraine’s collapse in the long run”.
Ms Stanovaya believes nothing “will not deter Russia from its ultimate goal”.
She wrote on X: “Putin will continue to flatter and appease Trump, offering concessions that Trump will portray as a HUGE SUCCESS and a WONDERFUL DEAL.
“But these concessions – such as a ceasefire – will not deter Russia from its ultimate goal: securing a “friendly” Ukraine on its terms.”
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US policy research organisation, said “a premature deal risks letting Putin off the hook […] before Ukraine and the United States attain a true position of strength”.
After learning of the US president’s plan to meet Putin, British Defence Secretary John Healey said it was for Ukraine to decide the timing and terms of any deal.
The US has suggested that, as part of a peace deal, Ukraine must accept it will have to give up some territory to Russia and it is unlikely Ukraine would join Nato, which will come as a bitter disappointment to Kyiv.
Just yesterday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken with Trump about a “lasting, reliable peace”.
Zelensky has previously expressed his confidence in Trump’s ability to broker a ceasefire, in a post to his X social media channel, he wrote it was “crucial” that any security guarantees in a peace deal involve the United States, Europe and Britain.
He said: “Security guarantees must involve the United States as the most significant guarantor, alongside Europe, including the EU and the UK.
“This is crucial. Only together. Whether it’s a contingent, weapons, naval presence, personnel, or air defence systems—it must be a joint effort between the US and Europe.”