US and Russia discuss peace, while Ukraine and Europe hold pause Experts weigh in on Putin-Trump negotiations

International media report significant progress in negotiations between Washington and Moscow. According to a statement by White House Press Secretary Caroline Livitt, made following a phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin expressed its willingness to consider the possibility of a temporary suspension of military actions in Ukraine.

Putin and Trump confirmed that the conflict must end with a lasting peace and emphasized the need to improve bilateral relations between the U.S. and Russia. The leaders agreed that the path to peace would begin with a ceasefire on energy and infrastructure targets, as well as technical negotiations on implementing a truce in the Black Sea, a complete ceasefire, and the establishment of permanent peace.

Russian and Ukrainian political analysts gave an assessment of the outcome of the negotiations in conversation with Caliber.Az.

Svyatoslav Andrianov, a Russian political scientist, director of the international public organization "Center for Political Analysis and Information Security," member of the German Council on Foreign Policy, and chairman of the Berlin Committee for Strategic Partnership in Eurasia, believes that the prospects for a ceasefire remain unclear.

"At the moment, the Trump administration is operating within the framework of a scenario formed during his election campaign. Back then, he made numerous statements and promises, including those regarding Ukraine, and now his voters expect them to be fulfilled. At the same time, it is becoming clear that Washington has limited leverage over Moscow. It seems that the negotiation process has stalled. However, it is important to note that both sides — the U.S. and Russia — are declaring a constructive dialogue. This could indicate Trump's desire to show his voters that he is gradually moving toward his stated goal, while Moscow, for its part, does not want to escalate the negotiation process, focusing on potential economic cooperation with Washington."

At the same time, Moscow insists on full control over the four regions of Ukraine included in its constitution, as well as on halting the supply of weapons and intelligence to Ukraine. These demands are not currently supported by the Trump administration. Even if the U.S. were willing to make certain concessions, the question remains open—how to compel Ukraine to accept them.

Additional pressure is created by the fact that the Trump administration has a limited amount of time. In 2026, a new election cycle will begin in the U.S., meaning that any failures or unfulfilled initiatives could be used against him by his opponents.

In the current conditions, Russia sees itself in a more advantageous position, as its troops continue to advance on the battlefield. Moscow believes that without meeting its conditions, a ceasefire would be impractical, as it could give an advantage to Kyiv, which would continue to receive intelligence and weaponry from its Western partners.

In the Russian expert community, there is an opinion that over the three years of the conflict, Moscow has already made several concessions that were later used against it. Based on this, the Kremlin is signaling that it is not willing to repeat such steps. Putin's position remains unchanged: either Russian conditions will be accepted, or hostilities will continue," noted Andrianov.

Vadim Tryukhan, a Ukrainian diplomat and international law expert, believes that at the moment, Trump positions himself as the sole and indispensable negotiator, but his actual effectiveness raises serious doubts.

"It is obvious that his approach does not take into account the interests of either Ukraine or Europe. The White House and the Kremlin interpret the results of the recent conversation between Trump and Putin differently. While the American side claims that the issue of military aid to Ukraine was not discussed, the Kremlin's press release clearly states that Russia demands its cessation."

It is noteworthy that after Putin's statement about an alleged order to stop strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, Kyiv and other regions were subjected to massive drone and missile attacks. This once again confirms that Putin's words cannot be trusted.

At this point, it is important to understand that the negotiation process is still in its early stages. For Ukraine, it is crucial to have mediators involved who take into account its national interests, as well as those of Europe. In this context, the role of the European Union is becoming increasingly significant, given its active involvement in supporting Ukraine — both financially and militarily.

As for Trump's position, there is an ongoing internal debate in the U.S. regarding the future strategy on the conflict. There is still no clarity on Washington's final decision regarding aid to Ukraine, but it is clear that this issue remains at the center of international attention," Tryukhan concluded.