¡Increíble! On Monday, the White House buzzed with diplomats and world leaders as President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside seven European heads. The goal? To kickstart a new chapter in the Ukraine crisis—though it fell short of a deal, experts say it still mattered. 🤝
According to Cui Zheng, director of the Research Center for Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asian Countries at Liaoning University, the relaxed atmosphere pushed the peace process forward in four ways:
- U.S. commitment to security guarantees and direct territorial talks with Vladimir Putin.
- Russia's softened stance on a one-on-one meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy.
- Continued Russian attacks during discussions, signaling a hard-line approach.
- Positive remarks from all sides, highlighting that Ukraine and Europe still value U.S. support.
Meanwhile, Zhao Huirong from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences notes a key shift in strategy: parties moved away from demanding an immediate ceasefire and harsher sanctions, and toward planning a U.S.-Russia-Ukraine summit and securing guarantees for Kyiv from the U.S. and Europe. 🌍
But major gaps remain. The biggest is the territorial debate—Russia wants to swap lands seized in 2022 for Ukraine's eastern regions, a red line for Kyiv. Zhao observes that Zelenskyy has softened his stance by agreeing to discuss territory at a presidential summit, but that high-demand hurdle makes progress tough. ⚔️
Europe made its mark by showing unity with Kyiv and pressing Washington to share responsibility. Experts agree Europe's main wins were clarifying its stance to Trump, blocking hasty territorial concessions, and securing a role in future security guarantees.
So, what's next? Cui warns that deep divides over land and ceasefires mean the war will drag on, with only temporary truces likely. Zhao expects more diplomatic rounds before any lasting peace emerges. For now, this White House meetup reminds us that even without a breakthrough, keeping dialogue alive is key. 🕊️
Reference(s):
Q&A: Why Ukraine talks fell short of a breakthrough, but still matter
cgtn.com
