Sorry to bring this conflict up again since most people could care less but I am an international relations nerd and it interest me….
At the somber funeral for the Pope Donny made time to hold a meeting with Zelenskyy in the Vatican chapel….
President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met briefly on Saturday before the funeral for Pope Francis as the American leader steps up pressure to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. It was the first face-to-face encounter between the presidents since they argued during a heated Oval Office meeting at the White House in late February, per the AP. After the funeral, on his flight home, Trump questioned in a social media post whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is committed to ending the war. “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days” in Ukraine, Trump wrote, per NBC News. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along.”
Part of any deal will involve the Donbas region and the Crimea….and Donny made a pronouncement on that situation…..
President Trump spoke five words in an interview with Time that won’t please Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky: “Crimea will stay with Russia.” It’s only the latest development about the Crimean peninsula, which has emerged this week as a sticking point in any peace deal to end the war with Russia.
- The interview was published Friday, and Trump spoke those words on Tuesday. The next day, he also cast doubt on whether Ukraine should retain control of the peninsula seized by Russia in 2014. In a Truth Social post, Trump criticized Zelensky after the Ukraine leader—in an interview with the Wall Street Journal—flatly rejected any peace plan that calls for it to cede control of Crimea.
- “This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” wrote Trump. “Nobody is asking (Zelensky) to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”
- An analysis at the BBC explains that Zelensky cannot cede control because it’s seen as a “red line” within his country. An American-designed peace plan, however, seems to call for just that, though details remain murky. “Trump is correct that there is little chance of Ukraine regaining Crimea in the foreseeable future, and it is in reality—de facto—under Russian control,” writes Paul Kirby. “But that is a far cry from recognizing it as legal.”
- Another analysis at the New York Times points out that Zelensky is constrained on Crimea by Ukraine’s own constitution—and by political realities. “There is not a single Ukrainian politician who would vote to legalize the occupation of Ukrainian territories,” says Kostyantyn Yeliseyev, former presidential deputy chief of staff. “For members of Parliament, it would be worse than political suicide.”
Zelenskyy will not accept this….at least that is the position he held for all these years.
Donny seems to think that Zelenskyy is read to give up Crimea….
US President Donald Trump said he believed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to concede Crimea to Russia as part of any ceasefire deal, as talks on a truce entered what Washington called a critical week on Monday.
Trump also stepped up pressure on Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian president should “stop shooting” and sign an agreement to end the grinding war that started with Moscow’s February 2022 invasion.
Trump’s comments came a day after he met Zelensky during the funeral of Pope Francis, breaking the ice after a major row between the US and Ukrainian leaders at the White House in February.
“Oh, I think so,” Trump told reporters in Bedminster, New Jersey, when asked whether he thought Zelensky was ready to “give up” Crimea — despite the Ukrainian president repeatedly saying he never would.
Is he really willing to give up Crimea?
The mayor of Kyiv had a different take….
Ukraine may have to cede territory in order to secure “temporary” peace with Russia, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko told the BBC in an interview published Friday.
“One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary,” the former boxing champion said.
His comments came after a Russian missile-and-drone attack on his city killed at least 12 people and injured more than 80.
Klitschko told the BBC that he was “responsible for the capital of Ukraine” and that President Volodymyr Zelensky may have to accept a “painful solution” to achieve peace.
Ukraine May Have to Cede Land ‘Temporarily’ for Peace: Kyiv Mayor
After Donny was skeptical of Putin….Vlad announced a temporary ceasefire….
Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine on May 8-10 to mark the World War II Victory Day, reports the AP. The move comes as President Trump’s administration decides whether a deal to end the more than three-year war is within reach.
- The Kremlin said the truce will start on May 8 and last through the end of May 10. The Kremlin said that Putin ordered the full cessation of hostilities on “humanitarian grounds” to mark the May 9 holiday celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany.
- Just before the ceasefire announcement, Ukraine and Russia targeted each other with long-range strikes. The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces downed 119 Ukrainian drones overnight, most of them over Russia’s Bryansk border region. In Ukraine, air raid sirens rang out across the country Monday morning. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
- The outcome of a push by Trump’s administration to swiftly end the fighting remains unclear, clouded by conflicting claims and doubts about how far each side might be willing to compromise amid deep hostility and mistrust. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that this week would be “very critical.” The US needs to “make a determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in,” he said on NBC’s Meet the Press.
Is this a break in the ice?
No one trust anyone so this may be a fart in the wind….but the Ukrainian people need a break from the death and destruction…
This situation gets more convoluted month by month.
Any thoughts?
I Read, I Write, You Know
“Lego ergo scribo”
My own opinion is that Trump has a Bloody Cheek suggesting Zelenskyy cede any of his country to the invaders. He is not trying to achieve peace for the sake of peace but only to enhance his own reputation and put himself forward for a Nobel prize.
Would Trump be willing to give up Florida to Putin if asked? The people of Ukraine have fought bravely to retain their National Sovereignty and keep their Country whole.
I don’t think much of Putin’s ceasefire as the start date gives him plenty of time to carry on bombing civilians until the truce starts. Maybe Europe could supply enough weapons for Zelenskyy to satrt bombing civilian areas inside Russia and force a withdrawal from inside his territory. Trump is not enhancing his miserable reputation with his efforts and he is not doing any good for the people of Ukraine his supposed alies. It’s time he started laying the blame for theis conflict squarely at the hands of Putin and stop making excuses for him, and gain him land he is not entitled to. Time to start honouring past treaties and accepting that Putin is a war criminal. Hugs
I think the ceasefire is a delaying ploy by Putin….the problem is in the Donbas region is mostly Russian and if there is a peace it will not last long especially in that region. chuq
Most articles I read conveniently forget that much of the area in Eastern Ukraine currently in dispute was already in favour of becoming part of Russia because the people there spoke Russian and were persecuted for it. The earlier conflicts in the east of that country were between pro-Russian Ukrainians and anti-Russian Azov militias who were later incorporated into the regular army of Ukraine to give them some respectability.
As for Trump, I dare him to show me where Ukraine is on a map of the world.
Best wishes, Pete.
That point is overlooked….as long as their are ethnic Russians there there will be no peace. chuq