Trump and Putin held a 2.5-hour telephone conversation

US President Donald Trump discussed with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin Possible truce in Ukraine. The telephone conversation of Putin and Trump was held on Tuesday, on March 18 and took 2.5 hours.

This is the second official telephone conversation of the presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States since Trump on January 20 for the second time took office as head of the White House.

Press release from the Kremlin:

• Leaders continued a detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for the desire to help achieve a noble goal of cessation of military operations and human losses.
• Having confirmed the fundamental commitment to the peaceful resolution of the conflict, the Russian President announced readiness for jointly with American partners to carefully study the possible ways of settlement, which should be of a comprehensive, stable and long -term nature. And of course, to take into account the unconditional need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, the legitimate interests of Russia in the field of security.
• In the context of the initiative of the US President on the introduction of a 30-day truce on the Russian side, a number of significant points are indicated on the provision of effective control over the possible ceasefire of fire throughout the combat contact line, the need to stop forced mobilization in Ukraine and the re-equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Serious risks associated with the inconsistency of the Kyiv regime, which has repeatedly saboted and violated the agreements, have also been noted. Attention was drawn to the barbaric crimes of a terrorist nature committed by Ukrainian militants against the civilian population of the Kursk region.
• It is emphasized that the key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and work in the direction of its resolution by political and diplomatic should be the complete cessation of foreign military assistance and provide intelligence information to Kyiv.
• In connection with the recent appeal of Donald Trump, to preserve the lives of the Ukrainian military, Vladimir Putin, who was surrounded by Ukrainian military, confirmed that the Russian side is ready to be guided by humanitarian considerations and in case of surrender, guarantees life and worthy appeal to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in accordance with Russian laws and norms of international law.
• During the conversation, Donald Trump put forward a proposal for the mutual refusal of the parties to the conflict from strikes for 30 days on energy infrastructure facilities. Vladimir Putin positively responded to this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding team.
• Structurally, the Russian President also responded to the idea expressed by Donald Trump to implement the well -known initiative regarding the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. It is agreed to start negotiations for the additional study of specific details of such an agreement.
• Vladimir Putin informed that on March 19, the prisoners will be exchanged between the Russian and Ukrainian sides – 175 by 175. In addition, as a gesture of goodwill, 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian military personnel who are undergoing a cure in Russian medical institutions will be transferred.
• Leaders confirmed the intention to continue efforts to achieve Ukrainian settlement in bilateral mode, including taking into account the above proposals of the US President. To this end, Russian and American expert groups are created.

What does all this mean

• Firstly, Trump canceled the press conference and limited himself to the message. The White House clearly counted on another result of negotiations. So Putin was able to convince Trump, he accepted the conditions of Moscow and did not go into conflict.
• The second time in a row, the Americans held weak negotiations for themselves: the first were Rubio Lavrov.
• Secondly, the text of Moscow is much more detailed than the American one, which means they are not so shy about their position and detail it.
• A truce in fact. Unlike the ceasefire of Riada, “Telephone” truce Already established by Putin, and he will either violate or accept.
• Moscow and Washington will “sell” Kyiv proposals a year ago: do not beat each other in energy infrastructure. Recall that for the sake of disrupting these agreements with the Kremlin, Bankova even began the Kursk adventure.
  And yes, now it is more profitable for the Russian Federation. Before the winter, it is pointless to beat the Ukrainian infrastructure, and where to beat something? The nuclear power plants remained.
• The exchange of 175 to 175 was planned earlier, but now it will pass “under the auspices of Trump”, and 23 seriously wounded prisoners were more likely a burden for the Russian Federation than the “asset”, but their Kremlin “sold” as a gesture of goodwill.
• The veiled request of the United States to the Russian Federation also attracts attention to prevent the acquisition of nuclear weapons to the Russian Federation.
• The horse will be in front of the cart again.

However, the most important thing is that Putin served, and Trump did not defend that at the beginning the coordinated parameters of a peace treaty, and only then a complete truce☝️

In fact, an attempt “Quick Victory” Rubio in the form of a stop of military operations failed (as predicted ☝). And the White House does not mind. In the beginning, you have to agree on the world.

The ball is again at Zelensky. And he has a bad choice:

• call a spade a spade about how negotiations went and defeat Trump;
• bend under the conditions of Trump-Putin.

As you can see, the Trump team is not very good in negotiations. It is worth recognizing that, within the framework of the Alliance, Putin outplayed Donny and did not go to any critical concession to Ukraine. At the same time, the Alliance continues to move forward to joint goals.

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