Americaâs efforts for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal have stalled
Image: AP
President Trump has ramped up efforts to reach a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine warâbut in recent days, talks have stalled amid disagreements over what that deal should look like.
Catch up quick
At a meeting in Paris last week, Trump administration officials presented Europe and Ukraine with a proposal to end the war, according to multiple reports. Along with a full and permanent ceasefire, the US proposal reportedly includes plans to:
- Have the US officially recognize Ukraineâs Crimea region as Russian.
- Freeze most other occupied Ukrainian territories along current battle lines, effectively leaving them under Russian control.
- Allow Ukraine to have an adequately equipped and manned army, as well as a defense industry.
- Establish a "robust security guarantee" for Ukraine involving a group of European countries and potentially also like-minded non-European countries.
- Promise that Ukraine wonât become a member of NATO.
- Lift economic sanctions on Russia.
Ukraine says ânayâ: Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the US proposal and said Ukraine would act in accordance with its constitution, which forbids the country from legally recognizing Russiaâs occupation of Crimea. Zelensky has also previously ruled out accepting Russian control of parts of four regions in eastern Ukraine.
- President Trump pushed back against Zelenskyâs statement, arguing that his peace deal doesnât require Ukraine to recognize Russian control of Crimeaâonly the US. He also argued that Zelensky's refusal to accept US terms "will do nothing but prolong" the conflict.
Trumpâs frustration with both sides is mounting. On Thursday, the US president made a personal appeal to Russiaâs Vladimir Putin urging him to stop attacks on Ukraine and agree to a peace deal, after Moscow launched an overnight airstrike that killed 12 people and injured 90 others in Kyiv.
đ Flash poll: On the whole, do you support or oppose the terms included in the US-backed proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying â
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that Trumpâs actions clearly show that what matters to him is not Ukrainian sovereignty and safety, nor the transatlantic alliance, but a deal with Vladimir Putinâno matter what that may mean for Ukraineâs wellbeing.
- Others contend that Trump isnât wrong to emphasize that itâs long past time for a negotiated settlement to end the warâbut the way in which he aims to end the war is very unusual and will likely backfire.
- âTrump wants a deal, whatever it means for Ukraineâ âThe Guardian Editorial Board
- âTrumpâs Russia-Ukraine war negotiation strategy is incredibly unusual â and not in a good wayâ âBen Burgis, MSNBC
- âWhy âVladimir, STOP!â Wonât Stop Vladimirâ âSerge Schmemann, NY Times
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that Trumpâs frustration with Russia and Ukraine not agreeing to end the war is understandableâbut he canât abandon peace efforts without first applying serious pressure to Putin, similar to how he has with Zelensky.
- Others contend that President Trump should rethink his strategy in regards to Russia-Ukraine, which is failing to produce peace, and accept the basic truth that Putin, an enemy of the US, wants to subsume Ukraine as a free nation.
- âTrump cannot give up on Ukraine peace before pressuring Russiaâ âWashington Examiner Editorial Board
- âA Moment of Truth in Ukraineâ âWSJ Editorial Board
- âForcing Ukraine to Surrender to Russia Is No Path to Sustainable Peaceâ âNational Review Editorial Board
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