Perhaps the most striking element of the phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was how differently the two presidents interpreted their conversation about the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin noted a “frank exchange of views,” which is usually diplomatic speak for an argument, as Putin turned down Trump’s call for a 30-day ceasefire. Instead, he offered only to stop attacks on energy infrastructure.
The White House talked up that concession as the beginning of moves toward a “full ceasefire and permanent peace” that would continue “immediately” with further talks in the Middle East.
Yet there was no sign Putin agreed with this outlook. Instead, he insisted on conditions including a halt to foreign military supplies and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine that would make it easier for Russia to resume the fighting if peace talks broke down.
That demand threw the initiative back to Trump to secure the truce he wants. Unless the US moves to pressure Europe to cut off arms deliveries, Putin could simply shrug that his demands aren’t being met and carry on the war while blaming Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s interpretation also made clear it regards efforts to resolve the conflict as a subject for bilateral talks with the US, relegating Ukraine and its European allies to bystanders.
Meanwhile, both Washington and Moscow talked up prospects for boosting economic and energy relations, while working together on major geopolitical issues in the Middle East and elsewhere.
It all left the impression of two leaders eager to set aside the war and get down to business together. That’s likely to ring alarm bells in Europe and Ukraine about Trump’s willingness to pressure Putin into accepting a just peace.
The US has already accepted many of Russia’s demands. Yesterday’s call showed Putin remains under little pressure from Trump to make any concessions of his own. — Tony Halpin