In a significant move towards ending the prolonged conflict in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.
After the discussions, Trump expressed optimism about reaching a peaceful resolution, stating, \"I think we are on the way to getting peace. I think President Putin wants peace, President Zelensky wants peace and I want peace.\" He emphasized his desire to see an end to the loss of lives, saying, \"I just want to see people stop getting killed.\"
During the call, Putin extended an invitation to Trump to visit Moscow and offered to welcome American officials to Russia to discuss mutual interests, including the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. This gesture marks a potential thaw in relations as the Ukrainian crisis enters its third year, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties.
The central issue driving the Russia-West divide remains Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO. Established in 1949 to counter Soviet influence, NATO has continued to expand post-Cold War, despite the Kremlin's concerns. Russia views Ukraine's NATO membership as a direct threat, akin to Western troops amassing on its borders, especially under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which treats an attack on one ally as an attack on all.
Despite these tensions, the Western bloc has maintained support for Ukraine's NATO ambitions, leading to ongoing Russian military responses. On the same day as Trump's calls, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled Ukraine's NATO membership as \"unrealistic\" and advised Kyiv to abandon hopes of reclaiming territories from Russia. Hegseth also clarified that there would be no deployment of U.S. troops to Ukraine, urging Europe to take the lead in providing both lethal and nonlethal aid to the nation.
The recent interactions between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky highlight a critical moment in the quest for peace in Ukraine, underscoring the complex dynamics of international relations and security alliances.
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Why Trump's talk with Putin matters in the Ukraine conflicts
cgtn.com
