Putin and Trump's phone conversation took place. Why it matters
Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a telephone conversation. They discussed several issues of interest to the parties, the main of which was the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. The White House said that it intends to immediately start negotiations between Moscow and Washington on this crisis. The last time the presidents of Russia and the United States called in late December 2021. What the dialog is about and what developments it may lead to - in the material of "Izvestia".
What the presidents talked about
- Following the telephone conversation in the Kremlin reported that the presidents discussed the settlement in Ukraine. Putin mentioned that in order to resolve the conflict, it is necessary to eliminate its root causes. He agreed with Trump that peace talks would make it possible to reach a long-term settlement. The US President, in turn, spoke in favor of an early cessation of hostilities.
- Among other things, the Russian president agreed to receive American officials who can negotiate on topics of interest to both countries, including the conflict in Ukraine. Putin also invited Trump to personally visit Moscow.
- For his part, Trump also commented on the conversation, calling it "productive." He announced the immediate start of talks between Russia and the US on the Ukrainian crisis. From the American side, they will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Walz and Trump's special envoy Steve Whitkoff. The U.S. president called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (credentials expired on May 20) immediately after his conversation with Putin and told him what had happened.
What background accompanied the conversation
- The phone conversation between the two presidents was preceded by a prisoner exchange. Mark Vogel, accused of drug smuggling, left Russia, and the United States released a Russian, whose name Russia has not yet announced. The White House also announced the release in Belarus of an American who wished to remain anonymous. Putin and Trump discussed the exchange, and judging by the tone of the further conversation, the event raised the level of trust between the heads of state and allowed them to have a productive dialog.
- Prior to the phone call, there were also several events directly related to the conflict in Ukraine. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth voiced the US position on a number of issues that are crucial for a settlement. He stated that Ukraine's return to the 2014 borders is unrealistic, the US does not consider NATO membership as part of the conflict's completion and will not send its troops to ensure security.
- Separately, Hegseth discussed Europe's role in the settlement. He pointed out that the Old World should assume part of the U.S. obligations with regard to Ukraine, and Europeans should not count on Washington's unconditional and immediate support for their own security. The head of the Pentagon announced that Europe should spend more on its own defense, otherwise they will cease to play a role in any global processes.
- Later, Trump partially confirmed Hegseth's words. He also called Ukraine's accession to NATO unlikely and a return to the 2014 borders impossible. The US President also said that Ukraine will have to hold elections sooner or later. According to Trump, US aid to Kiev will continue on condition that the protection of the invested funds is guaranteed.
- These events serving as a backdrop make it clear that now Russia and the US have a chance to build trusting relations that will lead to the success of negotiations on Ukraine. Washington has made it clear that it shares Moscow's demands, which include recognizing territorial changes and Ukraine's non-aligned status.
What the conversation between the presidents could mean
- The way both sides commented on the conversation already indicates an important shift. Both Moscow and Washington have made it clear that they are open to cooperation and do not feel the sense of hostility and antagonism that has been evident on the American side for the past three years. Talks about the "strategic defeat" of one side have suddenly been put aside and replaced by a pragmatic proposal to solve problems through negotiations.
- The paradigm shift is evident at least from the fact that the presidents discussed not only the crisis in Ukraine, but also a wide range of other issues. In addition to the prisoner exchange, these included the situation in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear program, and economic relations. The fact that the parties paid attention to other topics not directly related to Ukraine speaks at least about their willingness to dialog on an equal footing, because if there was an intention to solve all these issues only unilaterally, the dialog would simply not continue.
- The first call is also important from the point of view that it should encourage the American establishment and indicate to it that the White House no longer welcomes a confrontational attitude toward Russia. There are still forces in Washington that would be happy to follow the course of the previous administration, but once Trump has moved to a direct discussion of the accumulated problems, there will be no turning back. If earlier there was still talk that the U.S. president might lose interest in the Ukrainian issue or put the brakes on relations with Russia, now the diplomatic work on the American side will boil over.
- The conversation took place at the right time to accumulate the effect - on the eve of the Munich Security Conference, at which the issue of Ukraine will again become the main issue. An impressive U.S. delegation traveled to the conference, including Trump's appointees to negotiate with Russia. The Putin-Trump talks will inevitably set the tone for all subsequent discussions that will take place in Munich and on which the global public has been betting.
- Given how much leverage the U.S. has over Ukraine, it is the negotiations between Russia and the U.S. that could lead to a peaceful settlement. Ukraine's position will be determined by Trump's position, and therefore the dialog between Moscow and Washington is the most promising. Now the two powers have demonstrated that they are ready to conduct it.
- Separately, it is worth mentioning that Trump has essentially led the negotiations on behalf of the entire West, without sharing this authority with Europe. Previously, the US was in a strong coalition with EU countries and the UK, coordinating their positions and imposing similar sanctions. Attempts to dialog with Moscow in Brussels were harshly rebuffed and condemned. In the case of Trump, this did not happen. Europe now faces two paths - support the White House's efforts or go into confrontation with him. Given the confusion that Trump causes even on ordinary economic issues, it will be extremely difficult for Europe to choose the second option.
- The conversation between Putin and Trump has opened a window of opportunity for both countries, but does not yet lead to the complete eradication of all problems. The process of establishing a relationship and building a negotiation process may be quite long and encounter many obstacles from uninvolved parties along the way. The next checkpoint may be a personal meeting of the two presidents, and until then the fact of their dialog serves as an optimistic beacon on the way to a settlement.
In preparing the material, Izvestia spoke with and took into account the opinions of:
- Americanist Vladimir Batiuk
- political scientist Alexei Martynov
- Maxim Suchkov, Director of the Institute of International Relations of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO).
- Ilya Kravchenko, an American political scientist and Advisor to the Director of RISI.
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