Trump and Putin set for key talks on Ukraine division
Donald Trump has announced a conversation with Vladimir Putin, scheduled for 18th March. Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy for the Middle East, also confirmed this information. The topic will include the territorial division of Ukraine.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced aboard Air Force One that he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, March 18th, at Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy for the Middle East, also confirmed this information.
Trump-Putin conversation. US president reveals details
During a meeting with journalists aboard the plane, Trump revealed that the conversation will concern the division of Ukraine's assets, among other things. "We'll be talking about land. We'll be talking about power plants. I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia. We're already talking about that, dividing up certain assets," said Trump.
The US president expressed hope for ending the war, emphasising that there is a large chance of reaching an agreement. Trump aims to gain support for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has already accepted.
Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff confirmed in an interview with CNN that the phone conversation between the US and Russian presidents will take place this week. "We're also continuing to engage with and have conversations with the Ukrainians. We're advising them on everything we're thinking about," Witkoff acknowledged.
Trump's conversation with Putin aims to resolve the conflict and establish ceasefire conditions. However, the Kremlin has not shown full readiness to halt its offensive for now. The Russian leader stated outright that a ceasefire would only benefit the Ukrainian side. "We proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis," said Putin.
Putin's goals still the same
According to experts, the Russian leader is playing for time, as he knows he has the upper hand on the front. Moreover, Putin is said to have demands not only regarding Ukraine but also the entire post-war security arrangement, including US involvement on NATO's eastern flank. The Kremlin aims to "push" Americans out of Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine, in turn, is to be "neutralised," with no chance of joining NATO and the EU, and its army, according to Russians, should be reduced. The question is how Donald Trump will react in this situation.
