LOS ANGELES (OC).–Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 53-year-old Secretary of State Marco Rubio and 75-year-old Russian Foreign Minister discussed spent hours discussing how to move the Ukraine War to the peace table. Two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul hasn’t resulted in anything concrete, instead Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified the war, something disappointing to 79-year-old President Donald Trump. Trump talked with Putin a week ago last Thursday, only to find the Russian leader push the pedal to the metal firing the most intense drone and missile strikes all over Ukraine. Trump hoped that Putin would work with him on getting a 30-day ceasefire to work on a more permanent end to the over three-year war. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken a more strident tone in any peace talks, rejecting Putin’s demands for Ukrainian territory.
Lavrov told Rubio that Russia has not given up on a ceasefire or peace talks, only wanted to take them more methodically, letting respective peace delegations in Instanbul work out the details for a ceasefire and long-term settlement. “I think it’s a new and different approach. Again, I would characterize it as something that guarantees peace, but it’s a concept that we’ll—I’ll take back to the president today and—her as as soon as I finish with you,” Rubio told reporters in Kuala Lumpur after his meeting with Lavrov. Rubio said he and Lavrov shared some idea that could jumpstart the peace talks, something that looks stalled. “And look, the president’s been pretty clear: He’s disappointed and frustrated that there’s not been more flexibility on the Russian side to bring about an end to this conflict,” Rubio said, letting Lavrov know that Trump is still committed to peace.
Trump wants a path forward to a ceasefire and peace talks, knowing that Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky has been fixated on hitting Russia with more economic sanctions, rather than compromising for peace. Zelensky has taken a hard line position that he wants all of Ukraine’s sovereign territory returned to Ukraine. In the last meeting in Istanbul, Putin revealed his “memorandum” which laid out the conditions for a ceasefire and permanent settlement. Zelensky called the memorandum “blackmail,” leaving Putin no choice but to escalate the war. “We hope that can change, and we’re going to continue to stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference,” Rubio told Lavrov. Rubio knows that the main obstacle to a realistic peace involves Zelensky’s refusal to trade land-for-peace, something required to get a deal.
Lavrov complimented Rubio for working overtime to bring about peace in Ukraine. Lavrov called his discussions a “substantive and frank exchange,” showing that Putin really was more involved in the peace process than thought by Trump. Russia’s Foreign Ministry praised Rubio for his continued support of the peace process. “They have reaffirmed mutual commitment to searching for a peaceful solution to conflict situations and resuming Russian-U.S. economic and humanitarian cooperation and unhindered ties between their countries’ societies, which could be promoted by the resumption of direct flights,” said Russia’s Foreign Ministry after Lavrov and Rubio’s talks. Lavrov, more than any member of Putin’s inner circle, attests to the real progress toward normalizing U.S.-Russian relations. Trump worked hard to restore normal U.S.-Russian relations.
Trump has some real challenges going forward, delivering some defensive weapons to Ukraine without destabilizing U.S.-Russian relations. If he signs onto more economic sanctions, Trump, like members of the EU, would certainly set back peace talks. Putin wants Zelensky to get real about peace talks, knowing if he wants a settlement, he’s going to have to give up Kherson, Zaporizhizhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea. Putin seized Crimea March 1, 2014 after a CIA-backed pro-Western coup toppled the pro-Kremlin Kiev government of Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych is long gone but Ukraine knew there would be consequences to any coup that threatened Russia’s Black Sea fleet. Ukrainian officials never figured out the consequences to ousting Yanukoych from power. Zelensky keeps insisting that he wants Crimea returned to the Kiev government.
Before Trump jumps the gun on more punitive measures for Moscow, he should look at all the progress he’s made restoring normal U.S.-Russian relations. Whatever hasn’t happened in any peace deal, it’s certainly not all on Putin, knowing that Zelensky has taken a more unrealistic position on ceasefire and peace talks. Putin would settle the conflict but not on Zelensky’s terms. While Zelensky has EU backing, he has no ceasefire and peace deal. EU officials, like French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer all take Zelensky’s position but have gotten nowhere. If Zelensky wants to stop the carnage and destruction, he needs to let Trump work out a deal with Putin that works or both sides. While the EU supports Zelensky, they’re not willing to fund proxy war with the Kremlin like former President Joe Biden did for three years.
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.
