Trump Shifts Tactics on Ukraine Ceasefire, Emphasizes Direct Negotiations

President Trump has revised his earlier stance on the Ukraine conflict, urging direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine instead of advocating for an immediate cease-fire. Following talks with President Putin, Trump suggests that the Vatican may mediate the discussions, but Ukrainian President Zelensky insists on the need for American and European involvement.

President Trump made headlines on Monday by stepping back from his previous insistence that Russia declare an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine. Instead, he has thrown his support behind President Vladimir V. Putin's call for direct negotiations between the two warring nations.

Following a two-hour phone conversation with Putin, Trump announced that the Russian leader was willing to “immediately” commence direct discussions with Ukraine aimed at achieving a cease-fire and progressing toward a more comprehensive peace agreement to end the ongoing conflict. Trump remarked that the intricacies of the negotiations should be handled by the involved parties, stating they "know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of."

This marks a notable shift from Trump's recent rhetoric, which had included threats of heightened pressure on Russia, including potential banking sanctions as a consequence of Putin's reluctance to halt hostilities. In a surprising turn, Trump expressed a willingness to pass on the mediation mantle to the Vatican, suggesting that the Pope could host the preliminary negotiations, and exclaimed, “Let the process begin!”

While Trump portrayed the initiation of peace discussions as a capitulation from Putin, he was in fact aligning with Putin’s strategy, which has traditionally involved calling for lengthy negotiations rather than an immediate cessation of combat. As tensions remain high, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine voiced his apprehension after holding conversations with Trump, asserting that any negotiation process should include American and European representatives at an appropriate level to ensure a more balanced approach to peace talks.