Putin agreed to meet Trump before Friday deadline to buy some time.
WSJ: Putin may offer to keep parts of occupied Ukraine in return for withdrawing from others.
If Kyiv and Europe reject it, Moscow will frame Ukraine as blocking peace, prompting Trump to blame Kyiv. 1/
WSJ: Putin may offer to keep parts of occupied Ukraine in return for withdrawing from others.
If Kyiv and Europe reject it, Moscow will frame Ukraine as blocking peace, prompting Trump to blame Kyiv. 1/
Ukraine and EU officials fear Trump could treat Putin’s proposal as a “hot offer” worth taking, without considering the details.
Kyiv and Brussels will never accept recognition of Russian occupation, which could shift White House pressure back onto them. 2/
Kyiv and Brussels will never accept recognition of Russian occupation, which could shift White House pressure back onto them. 2/
European and Ukrainian diplomats believe Putin aims to use the U.S. president to his advantage. He pretends to seek talks while trying to gain more territories in Ukraine. 3/
Trump is likely to press Ukraine to agree — threatening to cut military and intel aid, or to withdraw the U.S. from the negotiations. 4/
Putin has spent decades dealing with U.S. presidents and years studying Trump.
He knows Trump's habits, and keeps him in the room with long, friendly talks, hints at diplomacy, and keeps advancing the war. 5/
He knows Trump's habits, and keeps him in the room with long, friendly talks, hints at diplomacy, and keeps advancing the war. 5/
If a summit ends with no deal, Trump must choose: escalate pressure on Moscow (tariffs on Russian-oil buyers, broader sanctions) despite doubting they’ll move Putin.
Or walk away from the process and pin blame on Kyiv/Europe. 6X
Or walk away from the process and pin blame on Kyiv/Europe. 6X
Source: wsj.com/world/russia/t…
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