On Sunday President Trump remarked that emissary Steve Witkoff was likely to travel to Russia this week, presumably at the request of Kremlin officials. Earlier President Trump shortened the deadline for Russia to come to the negotiating table from 50 days to 10-12 days. The preferred timeline by President Trump ends this Friday.
(AP) – Vladimir Putin is open to meeting Volodymyr Zelensky for talks following “preparatory work at the expert level,” the Kremlin has announced, according to the state-owned RT television station.
“I would like to remind you that the president himself does not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting,” Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman said. “But only after the necessary work is done at the expert level and the appropriate distance is overcome.”
He said that the “preparatory work” had not yet been done. Putin has previously rejected several attempts by Zelensky to meet for talks over ending the Ukraine war.
Peskov also did not rule out a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin later this week, the state run TASS news agency reported.
[…] Witkoff is expected to land in the Russian capital on Wednesday or Thursday, according to Trump, following his trip to Israel and Gaza.
“They would like to see (Witkoff),” Trump said Sunday of the Russians. “They’ve asked that he meet so we’ll see what happens.”
Peskov said Monday: “We are always glad to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow. “We consider (talks with Witkoff) important, substantive and very useful.” (more)
Is this a Putin delay strategy?
U.S. trade talks with India collapsed and simultaneously the Modi government refused to distance themselves from Russia.
BRICS+ represented by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa + Egypt and Iran, seem to be standing firm on the nature of their economic bloc, which -I might add- only got stronger when the Biden sanctions against Russia were put into place.
Even President Trump seemed to indicate Sunday the “sanctions threat” doesn’t really hold a lot of influence when it comes to Russia. A secondary sanctions regime against countries that align to purchase Russian energy products could end up backfiring.
the first and foremost requirement for any talks should be GET RID of zelenski
I don’t know why Putin has changed his mind but I wonder if it is at all connected to Trump moving to a grand jury against the coup plotters. Perhaps Putin believes Trump may clean house afterall.
Whatever Putin believes, he got it from a better source than US MSM. They lie to us too!
Trump has gone full NeoCon, the meeting is a facade. Trump will complain that he tried to get a ceasefire before supporting the Senate 55B Ukraine aid package. The war will end when Ukraine is defeated, or Russia agrees to a ceasefire. Russia will not agree to a ceasefire because NATO will pour in more weapons and possibly troops if there is a ceasefire.
Worth watching
Ukraine Proxy-War: Trump Picks Up Where Biden Left Off on Rumble
I challenged the video creator that Trump was different, but that was before Iran and the continuation of Ukraine aid. Trump is pretty good on domestic issues but is just following the think tank plan on foreign policy. As Putin said in the Tucker Carlson interview, the president may change, but the foreign policy doesn’t.
Ukraine Proxy-War: Trump Picks Up Where Biden Left Off
Like you Martin Armstrong thinks that Trump has come under the spell of the neocons. Just two days ago, Armstrong was lamenting that Trump was not communicating with Putin. Then, out of the blue, came the Witkoff visit. Like you, Armstrong underestimated Trump..
Trump’s pique with Russia occurred because it didn’t comply with his first ceasefire request. Trump had claimed that he could bring peace to Ukraine, and Putin wasn’t helping. Trump’s goal is to get the ceasefire started. If he were a neocon, his goal would be to defeat Russia.
Once the ceasefire starts, Trump will be able to complete his trade deals with India and China. Then Trump will negotiate a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine that will take into account the vital needs of both countries. As we all know, he is a master negotiator.
Jim,
If Russia takes all of Ukraine, Trump will be blamed. The Democrats will plaster this all over the US: “Trump and Vance lost Ukraine!” The media will scream it every night. And the result will be a Democrat takeover of the House and Senate, and eventually the Presidency.
Part of my peace plan for Ukraine: let Russia buy Crimea and certain eastern lands at a very high price.
Jim,
If Russia takes all of Ukraine, Trump will be blamed. The Democrats will plaster this all over the US: “Trump and Vance lost Ukraine!” The media will scream it every night. And the result will be a Democrat takeover of the House and Senate, and eventually the Presidency.
Part of my peace plan for Ukraine: let Russia buy Crimea and certain eastern lands at a very high price.
Rational people will not blame President Trump.
The media has no credibility so it doesn’t matter what they scream.
The Democrats will not take over anything.
Russia isn’t going to buy Crimea. Crimea is already part of Russia, historically and legally.
The Eastern parts of the Ukraine are already part of Russia, historically and legally.
Here’s what’s going to happen:
0.o
Hey Sundance,
I didn’t hear PDJT47’s statements on Sunday that “Even President Trump seemed to indicate Sunday the “sanctions threat” doesn’t really hold a lot of influence when it comes to Russia.”
I would appreciate it if you could expound on your statement: “A secondary sanctions regime against countries that align to purchase Russian energy products could end up backfiring.”