As the conversations begin to finish the war, Ukraine could pay a high price for peace

Almost three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the conversations to end the war that has led to the loss of tens of thousands of lives will begin, announced the president of the United States, Donald Trump.

Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, by phone, and that both leaders said they wanted peace. Trump said he instructed US officials to begin the peace conversations immediately.

Preparing his conversation with Putin, Trump said the heads of state had a “long and highly productive phone call” in which they had discussed the war, and pointed out that the Russian president agreed that it was “common sense” to put an end to the conflict that has caused the destruction of the generalized scale in Ukraine and has caused the death of thousands of soldiers and civilians.

“We each talk about the strengths of our respective nations, and the great benefit that one day we will have to work together. But first, as we both agree, we want to stop the millions of deaths that take place in the war with Russia/Ukraine” Trump said in a publication on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Trump said he and Putin agreed to work closely and visit the countries of the other, adding that both men would instruct their respective teams to begin negotiations immediately.

Trump said he later spoke with Zelenskyy, who, he said, also wanted to “make peace.”

“I hope that the results of that meeting are positive. It’s time to stop this ridiculous war, where there has Trump, “Trump said,” Trump said. ” In a separate publication.

Before Trump’s announcement about negotiations, the United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh Russia in 2014.

“We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must begin by recognizing that returning to the borders prior to 2014 of Ukraine is an unrealistic objective,” Hegseth told officials from around 50 allied countries with Ukraine in Brussels on Wednesday, According to NBC news reports.

“Pursuing this illusory objective will only prolong war and cause more suffering,” he said.

Later, Trump agreed that he was “probably true” that there was no probability that Ukraine joined NATO. He agreed that the probabilities were thin that Ukraine would return to his borders prior to 2014, but said that “part of that land will return” as part of a peace agreement.

Before their large-scale invasion that began on February 24, 2022, the Russian forces had invaded the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and then backed and armed the pro-ruse separatists in the Donbas region in East Ukraine.

After almost three years of wholesale war, the Russian forces now occupy about 20% of very fortified territory in the south and east of the country, according to analysts.

It is likely that the feeling of the global market will be driven by the different perspective (although perhaps still distant) that a war that has caused global fractures and instability, interrupting global supply chains, the increase in energy prices and I would undergo consumers and investors, I could finally end.

Russia strongly sanctioned, whose economy has become on a war footing in recent years, will also enjoy the possibility that sanctions can be lifted as part of a peace agreement.

Trump’s intervention also gives Putin a “ramp out of the diplomatic ramp and leaves the war without losing his face. Russia will have to retreat its adversary and hostile posture to the United States, and Putin’s good relations with Trump could also facilitate it a lot.

The mood in Russia seems to be optimistic, with Kremlin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, affirming on Wednesday that Putin had “supported one of the main statements made by the US leader that the time has come for the time for our countries to work Together, “said Peskov, According to the state news agency TASS.

Kirill Dmitriev, Executive Director of the Sovereign Police Fund of Russia, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, told CNBC that “a single call can change the course of history: today, the leaders of the United States and Russia have possibly opened a door to a future in form by cooperation, not confrontation. “

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and Hawk high profile, commented that the conversation between Trump and Putin was important for the world, arriving at a time when he was “staggering at the edge of the apocalypse” due to the hostile relationships between Washington and Moscow in The last years.

Ukraine, meanwhile, is awake to the harsh reality that its greatest ally and benefactor, the United States, could ask the country to pay a high price for peace, which forces it to give up its dream of joining the NATO, and the security of the membership offered by membership, and to potentially admit territory occupied to Russia.

However, Kyiv officials are putting a brave face for the next conversations.

Yuriy Sak, an advisor to the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, told CNBC on Thursday that Zelenskyy had emphasized his US counterpart, with whom he has had a pictures relationship, that he had “emphasized that there are certain non -negotiable problems for Ukraine, as Our independence, our territorial integrity and our territorial sovereignty. “

“Now we understand very well that certain problems will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve, for example, the membership of Ukraine in the NATO alliance,” Sak told CNBC on Thursday. “At the same time, it is very important that both Pete Hegesh and Donald Trump reiterated that it is important that Ukraine, as part of this negotiation process, receives substantial and solid security guarantees.”

Sak said that Ukraine “would have to be intelligent in these negotiations” to achieve its objectives in the conversations, which said it would be “unprecedented.”

“We have signs that our position is understood by our US partners. We hope that European partners participate considerably in this process. The United States has important leverage that they can use to force Russia to accept the terms of peace and only peace. Now that is our goal, “Sak said.

Oleksiy Gontentko, a Ukrainian member of Parliament, told CNBC on Thursday that there was concern in kyiv that Putin’s reputation could be rehabilitated too fast.

“The problem is some comments from President Trump, who talked about a possible cooperation with Russia and very, very warm comments about Putin, and I just want to remind everyone that Putin is a war criminal, a tyrant, so I think I only He speaks to him.Street signals, “add,” but we hope these conversations can lead to peace. “

In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant of Putin for alleged war crimes, accusing the president and commissioner of Russia for the rights of children to supervise the illegal deportation of children from Russia to Ukraine. Moscow denies that he has committed war or civilians attacked during the war.

Beyond kyiv, the allies of Ukraine in Europe seem to have been surprised by Trump’s unilateral movement, with the senior officials of the continent expressing concerns that they could be left out of peace conversations.

On Thursday, the head of foreign policy of the European Union, Kaja Kallas, said that any agreement reached behind the block “would not work” and that the EU would devise “new initiatives” to support Ukraine, if kyiv decided “resist” to a deal. She did not offer more details.

“Any quick solution is a dirty treatment,” Kallas said in the comments informed by Reuters, adding that “we have seen that before, the murder will not stop.”

The greatest supporters of Ukraine in Europe issued a statement on Wednesday night saying that they would continue to support kyiv “until a fair, comprehensive and lasting peace is reached. A peace that guarantees the interest of Ukraine and ours.”

“We hope to discuss the way ahead with our American allies. Our shared goals must be put to Ukraine in a position of force. Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiation. Ukraine must have strong security guarantees.” The statement Of the Weimar+Group, composed of France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the European Commission, he said.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk echoed that feeling, Publication in x“All we need is peace. A fair peace. Ukraine, Europe and the United States should work on this together. Together.”