Western publications are commenting on yesterday's phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in which the two agreed to work for a 30-day halt to attacks on energy facilities and infrastructure in Ukraine, BTA reports.
"New York Times" notes that according to Washington representatives, Putin is making minimal concessions to appear committed to peace negotiations, while in reality he continues to pursue supremacy on the battlefield. The publication emphasizes that despite optimistic statements from the White House, no date has been set for a meeting between the two leaders, nor have any common principles for ending the war been agreed upon.
According to the newspaper, the Trump administration may be avoiding discussing territorial concessions that would be imposed on Ukraine in order to maintain maximum flexibility in the negotiations. At the same time, this behavior may be an attempt to avoid an open confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Washington Post" writes that the conversation reveals the challenges facing Trump in his attempts to end the war, despite his promises during the election campaign to achieve peace in "24 hours". According to the publication, the Kremlin sees the dialogue as a signal that Russia has been accepted back into the circle of world powers, despite its aggressive foreign policy and subversive actions against democratic processes.
The newspaper emphasizes that during his 25 years in power, Putin has sought to restore Russia's position as an equal partner in international relations, a role that does not correspond to the country's real economic power. "The Washington Post" adds that no other American president before Trump has accepted Putin as an equal interlocutor.
"The Guardian" emphasizes Putin's bold demands for a ceasefire, casting doubt on his seriousness. The publication comments that instead of committing to a complete cessation of hostilities, the Russian leader has offered limited concessions and insisted on a halt to foreign aid to Ukraine – a condition that would significantly weaken Kiev's position.
According to Orisia Lucevich of "Chatham House", Putin's proposal is a "goodwill gesture" aimed at keeping Trump's attention and achieving the strategic goal - the withdrawal of American support for Ukraine.
"Telegraph" emphasizes that the conversation was the moment when Russia should have demonstrated readiness for a serious commitment to peace. Instead, the public result was Putin's refusal to accept a full ceasefire and limiting attacks to energy infrastructure. The newspaper criticizes the lack of stronger pressure from the White House on Moscow.
"Politico" analyzes that Trump does not take into account a key aspect of the war - it is primarily dictated by Putin's domestic political ambitions. The publication emphasizes that internal repression in Russia allows Putin to wage war and consolidate his power. According to "Politico", the Russian president views the existence of a democratic and prosperous Ukraine as an existential threat to his regime and is therefore determined to prevent its independence and union with Europe.
Analysis by Western media shows that the conversation between Trump and Putin did not lead to significant breakthroughs in achieving peace, and Russia's strategy remains focused on achieving geopolitical goals through minimal public concessions.