In brief
Countries urge Putin to outline peace intentions ahead of key negotiations with Trump.
In a critical moment ahead of phone talks between President Vladimir Putin and former President Donald Trump, the UK and France are pressing Russia to demonstrate its commitment to a peace resolution in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the bravery of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in considering a ceasefire proposal, and he issued a challenge for Russia to reciprocate. “Enough deaths. Enough lives destroyed. Enough destruction. The guns must fall silent,” Macron stated in a message shared on social media platform X.UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed these sentiments, urging Putin to agree to a "full and unconditional ceasefire now," noting the lack of any visible intent from the Kremlin to establish peace. He warned that the UK and its allies have "more cards that we can play" to compel Russia into serious negotiations.In contrast, the White House released a more optimistic outlook as Trump prepared to speak with Putin, suggesting that peace in Ukraine may be "closer than ever." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that Trump is committed to achieving a peace deal and that the discussions would likely involve critical infrastructure, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—the largest in Europe—currently occupied by Russian forces since March 2022.Concerning the potential concessions in the ceasefire discussions, Trump mentioned, “We’ll be talking about land. We’ll be talking about power plants,” indicating discussions on underlying territorial and infrastructural issues. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refrained from providing details on the conversation, stating, "we never do that."Despite having expressed support for a ceasefire, Putin has also outlined numerous conditions that must be met for peace. One significant point of conflict is the Western Kursk region, where Ukraine previously launched operations and took control of some areas. As Russia aims to reclaim these territories, Putin claimed they are now fully under its control. The president has also raised concerns regarding the monitoring and enforcement of any ceasefire, specifically rejecting the presence of NATO troops.The proposed peace deal was discussed in negotiations involving Ukrainian and U.S. representatives in Saudi Arabia, resulting in a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept. Macron, alongside Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney, reiterated their nations’ unwavering support for Ukraine, emphasizing the necessity for "clear commitments" from Russia regarding peace.
