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Trump Set to Meet Putin Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to converse with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, a discussion that could significantly influence efforts to conclude the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting is also an opportunity for Trump to further shift American foreign policy in relation to Russia.
While aboard Air Force One en route from Florida to Washington, Trump informed journalists of the impending dialogue, and the Kremlin corroborated Putin’s participation the following morning.
“We will see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday. I will be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday,” Trump stated, noting recent efforts aimed at resolving the conflict: “A lot of work’s been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting on Monday but refrained from sharing specific details, emphasizing caution regarding the content of discussions between the two leaders: “We never get ahead of events, and the content of conversations between two presidents are not subject to any prior discussion.”
European allies remain cautious about Trump’s relationship with Putin, especially given his critical stance toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which has raised eyebrows following Zelenskyy’s recent visit to the Oval Office.
Despite its failure to achieve its initial objectives in Ukraine three years ago, Russia continues to exert control over significant portions of the country.
International Relations and Ongoing Tensions
Trump has indicated that discussions will involve critical topics such as land and energy resources, essential elements in seeking a resolution to the conflict. “We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants,” he remarked, referring to the potential “dividing up certain assets.” Recently, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Moscow to enhance negotiations.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin unlawfully annexed four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk and Luhansk in the east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the southeast. However, Russia does not have complete control over any of these areas. One of Putin’s stipulated conditions for peace last year included Kyiv’s departure from all four regions.
The Kremlin’s prior annexation of Crimea in 2014 also remains a contentious issue. Additionally, in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russia manages the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has frequently found itself in peril amidst ongoing hostilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency has raised concerns regarding the plant, warning of potential nuclear risks.
During the flight to Washington, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to imposing tariffs starting April 2, despite recent stock market fluctuations and the economic uncertainties they may bring. He described this date as a “liberating day for our country,” asserting that his administration aimed to reclaim wealth lost through prior leadership’s policies.
While past tariff strategies have seen some modifications—such as with Mexico—Trump stated he has no plans to adjust these tariffs regarding reciprocal trade: “They charge us and we charge them,” he declared, further specifying potential additional tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum.
Source
globalnews.ca