Putin had his say – now Zelensky gets his.
Concluding the recent summit meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump held what was billed as a press conference. It lasted a little longer than 12 minutes, and they took no questions. The media present at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson were disappointed and concluded little was accomplished. However, President Trump called it a productive meeting, and the discussions set the stage for more substantive talks that will include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. To that end, Zelensky, along with European leaders, will visit the White House on Monday, August 18, to resolve potential showstoppers in negotiating with the Russians.
Zelensky Comes to Washington – Again
Though many in the press believed little was accomplished, as Liberty Nation News reported, “Putin did offer a glimpse into a potential arrangement, explaining to the press that the agreement would be the starting point for both a solution to the war in Ukraine and a return to business-like, friendly relations between the US and Russia.” During their statements following the summit discussion, neither world leader expressed overt pessimism, although an agreement on a ceasefire in Ukraine, the outcome that was hoped for, did not happen. Trump explained the rationale for skipping the ceasefire step prior to peace talks. In a posting on Truth Social, the US President said:
“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up. President Zelensky will be coming to the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved.”
His statement that ceasefires “often times do not hold up” is demonstrably true, particularly in the war between Russia and Ukraine. In March, an attempt at a ceasefire was agreed to by the Kyiv government and flatly rejected by Moscow. Knowing this, the logical next step means going directly for a negotiated peace.
According to Just the News, President Zelensky will be joined at the White House by a host of European Leaders. This is an important addition to what was thought initially to be just Zelensky talking with President Trump and charting a way ahead for Ukraine. With European leaders involved, the responsibility for the outcome of the next meeting with President Putin will have buy-in from not just Ukraine, but Ukraine’s neighbors. “The leaders joining Zelensky include French President Emmanuel Macron, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Mark Rutte, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,” Just the News explained. If a peace agreement cannot be reached, Europe will also bear responsibility for the outcome. Failure at the peace table is an acquiescence to continued fighting, where so many have died already.
Typical of the casualty statistics, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that “Overall, a high of 250,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine, with over 950,000 total Russian casualties, a sign of Putin’s blatant disregard for his soldiers.” The CSIS estimates also include 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed or wounded. Trump’s goal is to stop the killing.
Ukraine President Brings Some Baggage to Monday’s Meeting
Zelensky, for his part, may be coming to the Monday meeting with a slightly more conciliatory demeanor. Furthermore, polling among the Ukrainian people indicates a growing number want the killing to stop in favor of a negotiated peace. According to Gallup polling, “…Ukrainians’ support for continuing to fight until victory has hit a new low. In Gallup’s most recent poll of Ukraine — conducted in early July — 69% say they favor a negotiated end to the war as soon as possible, compared with 24% who support continuing to fight until victory.” Additionally, Zelensky’s popularity has fallen significantly. He is facing intense public protests on the streets of Kyiv and other cities about everything from how he’s handling government corruption to government conscription tactics.
All of his domestic woes should prompt Zelensky to be more accommodating than in past meetings in Washington, DC. He cannot go home to his people, being tarred with the perception that his staunch adherence to unrealistic demands and unwillingness to negotiate on territorial boundaries in good faith stymied a peace deal. Over 1,270 days have passed since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the beleaguered population is growing more war weary with each Russian cruise missile, drone, or ballistic missile attack that brings death to their neighborhoods. Monday’s meeting may be Zelensky’s last best chance to create the circumstances for peace in Ukraine. As President Trump has said repeatedly, the outcome of the negotiations is up to Zelensky.
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