LOS ANGELES.–Russian President Vladimir Pution, 72, said he was open to meeting 47-year-old Ukrainian Presidient Volodymyr Zelensky as long as certain conditions were met. Zelensky and the European Union demanded that Putin travel to Instanbul and meet with Zelensky to resolve remaining issues to settle the Ukraine War. EU officials know that’s not the way diplomacy works making public demands in the media, expecting world leaders to jump through hoops. Putin did the appropriate thing to show good faith by sending a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky to Istanbul to hear exactly what the Ukrainian delegation expects in any ceasefire deal. Talks went so well in the hour-and-forty minute meeting, the warring parties agreed to meet again, deciding to swap 1,000 prisoners-of-war on both sides, something no low-level delegation could decide.
Zelensky has been telling the EU that Putin not showing up in Istanbul proves that he’s not serious about peace, asking French President Emmanuel Macron and others to impose a new set of sanctions to motivate Putin to negotiate in good faith. Macron said he hoped 78-year-old President Donald Trump would also hit the Kremlin with more sanctions, something that would ultimately backfire in terms of bringing about a ceasefire. Sanctions haven’t worked in the past and won’t work now, only driving Putin to take a more inflexible bargaining position. All parties agree that the war must end, something that only Trump has pushed since taking office Jan. 20. Trump made ending the Ukraine War a key part of his 2024 campaign, promising to end the war in short-order. But once in office, Trump encountered stubborn resistance from Zelensky and his EU backers.
Zelensky’s idea of a ceasefire and peace deal is that Putin return all the land seized in over three years of war, costing Ukraine some 25% of its best sovereign territory. Zelensky opted Feb. 24, 2022 to go to war with the Kremlin. Zelensky got former President Joe Biden, 82, to fund his war with the Kremlin, turning U.S.-Russian relations on its head. Biden ended generations of diplomacy, détente, arms control, and, most importantly, global cooperation on a host of key foreign policy issues. Once Biden funded proxy war with the Kremlin, Putin viewed the U.S. and Western alliance at war with Russia. Trump worked hard since taking office to reverse the damage done but Biden to normalize U.S.-Russian relations. Trump’s decision to normalize U.S.-Russians infuriated Zelensky. When Zelensky met with Trump in the Oval Office Feb. 28, Zelensky threw a fit.
Zelensky knows that global diplomacy, especially ending such a deadly war, doesn’t happen because he stomps his feet and demands that Putin show up at his beck-and-call. Working out a ceasefire and peace deal requires a lot of advance preparations with both sides working out the contours of a settlement before heads of state meet face-to-face to settle any conflict. Zelensky gaslighted the EU into thinking Putin was rejecting his peace overture when, in fact, he did everything appropriate to prove he took peacemaking seriously. Releasing 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war was the kind of gesture that proves Putin takes the peace process seriously. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a meeting with Putin was possible but not until Zelensky agreed with the terms of a settlement. Medinsky said he needs Zelensky to remove his troops from Kherson, Zaporizhizia, Donetsk and Luhansk before any ceasefire can be reached.
Ukraine’s delegation was outraged by the condition that Putin wants to claim his spoils of the over three-year-war, territory seized through combat. Zelensky knew in going to war with the Kremlin he risked losing valuable Ukrainian territory. Seeking a peace settlement, Zelensky hasn’t accepted the fact that he’s going to have to give up territory if he wants peace. Trump has told Zelensky he doesn’t have the cards in any peace settlement because he’s lost so much territory battling the Kremlin. Instead of accepting Trump attempt to settle the conflict with Putin, Zelensky ran to the EU and complained about Trump selling out Ukraine. EU officials have no clout with Putin, unable to get Zelensky any better deal. Trump wants Zelensky to accept a ceasefire and peace deal to cut his losses and spare Ukraine any more infrastructure destruction and carnage.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a face-to-face meeting with Putin would be contingent only to “achieve certain results in the form of agreements.” Peskov wanted to make clear that initial discussions have just started, only recently deciding on a prisoner swap. If Zelensky really wants peace, he’s going to have to accept that he’s the vanquished party in any negotiation. After over three-years of war, Putin has a right to claim his spoils for the sacrifices made by Russia in the war. Zelensky can’t realistically demand his land back because he gambled with Ukraine’s sovereignty and lost 25% of its best territory. Peskov wants to know in any final settlement who’s responsible in Ukraine to sign the ceasefire and peace documents. Given that Zelensky is the de facto head-of-state, you’d think he’s the one signing but maybe the parliament would also have to sign off.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
