Trump and Putin's pivotal call: Fears over Odesa's future
Donald Trump will be speaking by phone with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Both leaders are expected to discuss halting hostilities in Ukraine and the division of assets. Kyiv fears that Trump might cede the strategic port in Odessa to Putin, writes the "New York Times".
According to the Russian government agency Ria Novosti, Trump and Putin will call between 5 and 7 PM GMT. During Trump's first term, the two leaders spoke by phone 19 times and met six times.
This time, the politicians are mainly expected to talk about the war in Ukraine and halting the fighting. Officials from both countries reportedly ironed out many details over the past weekend concerning the ceasefire terms, including the division of territory and power plants. Media reports indicate that the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia might fall into Moscow's hands.
"I think we're doing quite well with Russia," Donald Trump said recently. The US President added that "we have a very good chance" of achieving a ceasefire.
"We’ve been discussing with Ukraine land and pieces of land that would be kept and lost and all of the other elements of a final agreement," Trump revealed on 13 March during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. He added that many elements of the final agreement have already been settled.
Odessa for the Russians?
"Mr. Trump was careful not to say much about which parts of Ukrainian territory he was discussing, or whether he would try to limit Mr. Putin’s ambitions. The Trump administration has already made clear it expects Russia to control the land that its troops already command, roughly 20 percent of Ukraine. But aides to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said last month they were concerned that Mr. Trump may entertain Mr. Putin’s other desires for parts of Ukraine, perhaps including the critical port of Odesa," reports the "NYT".
The newspaper highlighted the remarks of Michael Waltz, Trump's national security advisor. Waltz stated a few days ago on NBC that talks with Russia will be pragmatic.
Special envoy of the US President, Steve Witkoff, also spoke on CBS about potential access to Black Sea ports. Odesa is the largest port in Ukraine, handling grain, coal, wood, and sugar. It is also the third largest city in Ukraine, after Kyiv and Kharkiv. Russian control over the port could lead to a blockade of Ukrainian goods at sea.
