Ukraine peace talks overshadowed by Trump's solo diplomacy
In the longest presidential speech in history delivered before Congress, Donald Trump dedicated only a few minutes to Ukraine. However, in the last few hours, Kyiv has been increasing its signals regarding peace negotiations. "I doubt Putin wants peace. He sits in the Kremlin, does nothing, and 'wraps candy wrappers,'" says Col. (ret.) Maciej Matysiak.
During the speech, Trump said he received an important letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which was reflected in the Ukrainian leader's social media post. He claimed that Kyiv expressed its readiness to enter an agreement on mining Ukrainian minerals.
Zelensky reportedly affirmed that Ukraine is prepared to sign the agreement on resources and security anytime. According to Donald Trump, he also emphasized the country's readiness for peace and acknowledged the significant role the United States has played in helping Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. This statement came just hours after the same U.S. president decided to suspend arms deliveries to Ukraine.
"Wouldn't that be beautiful? It's time to stop this madness. It's time to halt the killing. It's time to end this senseless war," Trump said about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
During the address before the joint chambers of Congress, U.S. President Donald Trump also mentioned receiving a strong signal from Russia indicating its readiness to make peace. Zelensky went a step further by indicating the first steps to a truce. He proposed a prisoner exchange, as well as ceasing military actions in the air and at sea. He added that Ukraine is ready for this, provided that "Russia takes similar actions." According to the Ukrainian president, only then "can we talk about a real start to the peace process."
According to Col. (ret.) Maciej Matysiak, we are not seeing a change in the Ukrainian narrative.
"Trump wants to handle everything himself"
"Firstly, there are still no peace negotiations. And they are not on the horizon. Such talks require participation from both sides of the conflict. And in the current situation, Trump wants to handle everything himself and on his own terms," says Col. (ret.) Maciej Matysiak, former deputy head of the Military Counterintelligence Service.
And as he recalls, negotiation initiatives from various countries, including Ukraine, began with a phone call from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin.
"Since then, the American president has been striving to fulfil his election promise, which is to quickly end the war. Have there been new gestures toward negotiations? In my opinion, no, because Zelensky had already made them. He is ready, but not under the conditions that Trump wants to impose on him. He constantly emphasizes his readiness, whether it is for signing a resource agreement or for developing negotiation topics. But he wants to keep the U.S. anchored on Ukrainian territory to be a shield against Putin's actions. He wants security guarantees from the White House. And that's exactly what Trump doesn't want," assesses an expert from the Stratpoints Foundation.
A few hours after the halt of American arms deliveries, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance spoke in a conciliatory tone. - The United States does not rule out resuming the supply of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine if Kyiv starts peace talks - he stated in an interview with journalists.
BBC News Ukrainian reports that Ukrainians were pleasantly surprised by Trump's speech. The day before, one could have expected something negative after the U.S. president's address to Congress.
"The decision to halt arms deliveries is the result of Friday's argument at the White House. Trump wanted, after an emotional exchange with Zelensky, to put pressure on him. The decision is disastrous in its consequences. It weakens Ukraine's air defence against long-range Russian attacks, i.e., cruise missiles and planes firing missiles. It hits the Patriot, NASAMS, Himars systems," enumerates Col. (ret.) Maciej Matysiak.
The former military man does not share Ukrainian optimism regarding Trump's further moves concerning the war in Ukraine.
"We have a narrative dissonance"
- I doubt that Putin wants peace. The Russian delegation, after talks with the American administration in Riyadh, communicates that it agrees to nothing. The Kremlin and Putin do nothing, just sit and 'wrap candy wrappers' – he ironizes the former deputy head of SKW.
And as he adds, in Trump's speech to Congress, which lasted over 1.5 hours, Ukraine took up just 3 minutes.
"Unfortunately, the American president treats Ukraine as if it were the negative side of the conflict. And he does not approach Russia in such a way. So we have a narrative dissonance. This is because Trump de facto has no arguments towards Russia. His negotiation tactics burned out at the beginning. And this, in turn, testifies to the complete amateurism and weakness of part of the American administration and President Trump regarding the end of the war in Ukraine," emphasizes Matysiak.
Mariusz Marszałkowski, an expert from Defence24.pl, a specialist in Eastern security and policy, speaks in a similar tone.
"In the Kremlin, they sit, eat popcorn, and drink champagne"
- Russia has proposed nothing so far. And has adopted a tactic of not responding. Putin sits in the Kremlin, watches the situation, and listens to Trump 'boxing with' Zelensky. And 'dresses' the propaganda sauce on it within Russia's narrative around the commotion – says Mariusz Marszałkowski.
According to the expert from Defence24, the Trump administration directly implements Moscow's theses, which were presented in Russian state media.
"This includes the refusal to allow Ukraine into NATO, the issue of withdrawing American troops from Europe, or the discussion on lifting sanctions on Russia. Unfortunately, today we have a team in Washington that fully understands Putin's demands. Meanwhile, Moscow has high hopes for Trump's presidency. And it practically doesn't have to do anything. In the Kremlin, they sit, eat popcorn, and drink champagne – comments Marszałkowski.
