The path to a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia remains fraught with challenges, echoing the wisdom of ancient strategist Sun Tzu, who noted that prolonged warfare seldom benefits any nation. Since the conflict erupted on February 24, 2022, both nations have shown signs of exhaustion, but the prospects for a swift peace deal are uncertain.
In the political arena of the United States, former President Donald Trump had pledged to end the Ukraine conflict even before his term began. Despite this promise, the complexities of ending a war have proven more formidable than initiating one.
Nevertheless, Trump has taken steps toward normalizing relations between the United States and Russia. A significant move was his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12—the 10th anniversary of the Minsk II agreement, which had previously frozen the Donbas war in 2014. This conversation marked the first step in mending ties.
The dialogue continued with a summit in Riyadh on February 18 between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. While no formal agreement was reached, both officials committed to ongoing discussions and the appointment of ambassadors to each other's capitals in the near future.
Amid these diplomatic efforts, the Trump administration has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, alleging corruption and blaming him for Russia's actions in Ukraine. This criticism intensified after Zelensky declined to secure a deal with Washington concerning Ukraine's rare earth minerals.
Many political figures in Kyiv are seeking \"security guarantees\" from the United States in exchange for critical materials like rare metals. On the other hand, the U.S. appears to consider Europe as a primary provider of security for Ukraine. Reports suggest that Trump aims to de-escalate or freeze the conflict to focus on other geopolitical matters, including situations in the Middle East.
Some analysts in Russia have expressed concerns that long-term U.S. strategies might influence Russia's relationship with other global powers. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko recently indicated that the U.S. could attempt to create tensions between Russia and other nations, emphasizing that Russia should resist such pressures.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
