Trump and Putin in Phone Negotiations to End Russo-Ukrainian War

In news everyone should be caring about, U.S. President Donald Trump has been revealed to be engaging in direct talks over the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a ceasefire to end the bloody Russo-Ukrainian War. The conflict proper (since the mass invasion) is approaching its three year anniversary on February 24th, although its roots extend back to the Obama era in 2014, with violence continuing in the region ever since the U.S.-backed Maidan coup overthrew the Ukrainian president and installed a new one hand-picked by the United States who was friendly to the West and hostile to Russia.

According to reports from major news outlets, Trump has been in contact with Putin, discussing strategies to end the senseless bloodshed. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post, stated he had a plan to resolve the conflict but was reticent about the specifics, only hinting at the complexity involved. This dialogue comes at a time when the war has reached a critical juncture, with both nations suffering horrendous losses not seen in Europe since World War II. Currently, Ukraine still maintains control over parts of Russia's Kursk region, despite intense fighting there with the assistance of 10,000 North Korean troops. While Russia controls the far south-east territories of Russian-speaking Ukraine, Ukraine hopes that control over the small incursion into the Kursk territory might provide it with a bargaining chip in peace negotiations. However, it is doubtful that Putin will ever cede an inch of Russian territory to Ukraine, as it would be a tremendous moral loss. It remains unseen if control of the sliver of territory will buy Ukraine anything in negotiations at all, assuming they can hold on to it. Nevertheless, the talks between Trump and Putin are seen as a hopeful sign that a diplomatic solution might be on the horizon. Trump's assertion that Putin is "not indifferent" to the deaths on the battlefield suggests that Russia might be more open to negotiation than previously thought. While the specifics of what "ending the war" entails remain ambiguous, there is still speculation about potential conditions, including a ceasefire by Easter 2025, Ukraine's exclusion from NATO, and acceptance of Russian sovereignty over annexed territories. Further speculation exists that it would be ideal for the war to be wrapped up by May 9th, as this will be the 80th anniversary of Russia’s Victory Day (their cultural equivilent to our Independence Day), marking the end of World War II, Russia’s victory over the Nazis, and ultimately it’s survival as a nation.

The international community has responded with an unsurprising mix of feigned optimism and skepticism. While Europe has spent much on sending money and arms to Ukraine, there are also leaders and industries that have benfited from the destruction, and many leaders in the EU continue to press for the continuation of the war.

Public opinion is diverse, but most Americans seem to want the war to end, as well as for there to be an end to the billions of dollars wasted in funding a war that never should have been. However the war ends, it must be done in a way that promotes a permanent peace and restoring of relations with Russia, and not set up trip wires for a renewed conflict at a later date that could potentially be much bigger and catastrophic for all involved.