In anticipation of today's conversation, Donald Trump emphasized his upcoming discussion with Russia's Vladimir Putin. However, the outcomes appear to offer little substantial progress. Putin has provided Trump with just enough to claim advancement towards peace in Ukraine, without appearing to be manipulated by the Kremlin.
Trump can highlight Putin's promise to pause attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure for 30 days. Should this occur, it would offer some respite to civilians. Yet, it falls short of the comprehensive ceasefire the US sought from Russia. The conflict, which Trump has vowed to end, continues unabated.
Putin, who faces charges as a suspected war criminal by the ICC, is regaining a foothold in global politics. Russian media reported that the call between the two leaders lasted over two hours, with the Kremlin's detailed 500-word summary portraying the conversation as friendly, even touching on topics like ice hockey, which appeals to the Russian audience.
After years of isolation from the West, Russia is now engaging directly with a US administration eager to interact. The leaders are also discussing Middle East peace and "global security," a shift the Kremlin might find hard to believe.
Before the call, there was speculation that Trump might pressure Russia, especially since it had been delaying the ceasefire for over a week. However, there was no indication of a stern reprimand for Putin, unlike the one Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky received in the Oval Office two weeks ago. Both nations' reports suggest no significant changes.
Russia maintains it desires peace, yet instead of ceasing its military actions, it debates over monitoring a still non-existent ceasefire. Meanwhile, it imposes additional conditions aimed at weakening Kyiv's defense capabilities, including halting the supply of weapons and intelligence from Ukraine's allies.
For Ukrainians, the only glimmer of hope is that the US has not yet agreed to these demands. They can also view the call as further evidence of Russia's lack of interest in ending its invasion. However, this dialogue offers Ukraine little relief from its ongoing hardships.
From a US diplomatic perspective, the results are likely disappointing. For the Kremlin, however, it marks a favorable day, a scenario that seemed unlikely before Trump's return to the White House.