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(Washington, D.C.) — President Trump is the first to admit that he is unsure whether all his work to help end the Russia-Ukraine war will actually work. The President played host to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska last Friday, in a meeting both leaders say was fruitful. Then on Monday, the President sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Both Trump and Zelensky emerged from that closed door session with smiles.
President Trump told a TV outlet this week, “If I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.” His path to heaven will likely be incredibly difficult. Russia has made it clear that the war wont end until there is recognition of its control over occupied Ukrainian territories, that Ukraine ends it’s efforts to join NATO, and that debilitating sanctions on Russia are lifted.
Ukraine says it won’t stop fighting until there is a full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territories, there is a return of prisoners and kidnapped children, and until there are security guarantees in place to prevent future aggression by Russia.
Even with those gigantic hurdles, most of the world leaders, who have been in on the peace talks continue to be optimistic that something can be forged out the Trump meetings. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said “I think in the past two weeks we’ve probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three and a half years,” French President Emmanuel Macron is not so sure. “When I look at the situation and the facts, I don’t see President Putin very willing to get peace now. But perhaps I’m too pessimistic.”
Russia is continuing to launch strikes on Ukraine even as US officials are trying to arrange a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky. Ukraine has fired back missiles at Russian troops and has taken out Russian artillery since the talks in DC concluded.
US officials are trying to arrange a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky as soon as possible. POLITICO reports that the the Secret Service is preparing for a trilateral summit in Hungary. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt would neither confirm nor deny the report.
