Donald Trump boasted he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours before he became US president for a second time. But 400 days after Mr Trump’s inauguration, peace still appears to be a distant prospect as the brutal war enters its fifth year.
The Trump administration has brokered talks with delegations from Moscow and Kyiv as part of a year-long effort to stop the fighting. But reconciling key differences, such as the future of Russian-occupied Ukrainian land and post-war security for Ukraine, has thwarted progress.
Critics of Mr Trump have accused the US leader of appearing to favour his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, by offering Moscow concessions while piling pressure on Kyiv to accept a deal seen as favouring Russia. Putin has voiced support for Mr Trump’s efforts, but continues to stall and refuses to budge on the Kremlin’s demands. The Russian president’s stance pushed Mr Trump to change his tone and renew US arms deliveries to Ukraine.
What do you think? Has Trump put enough pressure on Putin to end the war? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comments section. Can’t see the poll below? Click here
Speaking on the eve of the four year anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy urged Mr Trump to stay on his country’s side.
Mr Zelensky told CNN he wants assurances over what Ukraine’s allies will do if Russia invades Ukraine again, if a potential peace deal is broken by Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine’s leader said there are also disagreements over the sequence of steps towards peace.
He said Mr Trump wants Kyiv to sign a peace agreement with Moscow along with a deal with the US and European allies giving Ukraine security guarantees in a major ceremony signalling the end of the war.
But Mr Zelensky wants Congress to agree and retify security guarantees first to give Ukrainians the certainty allies will can be relied on.
Russia also wants Ukraine to give up what remains of the country’s eastern Donetsk region. But Ukraine refuses to withdraw from the region and give up a crucial line in the country’s defence.
Meanwhile, thousands of troops on both sides have died on the battlefield and Ukrainian civilians battered by Russian strikes which have brought years of power cuts.
Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
Source link
