The national security adviser of President Donald Trump revealed plans for high-level discussions with European officials this week to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, initiated by Russia nearly three years ago. A recent report in the New York Post mentioned a phone call between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to explore potential solutions, although neither the White House nor the Kremlin has confirmed this. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz refrained from providing details in a recent TV appearance.
Waltz expressed concerns about the struggling Russian economy and indicated Trump’s willingness to employ measures such as taxing, tariffing, and sanctioning Moscow to push for negotiations with Putin. Additionally, the administration aims to engage in talks this week to reassess the United States’ support for Ukraine, urging European allies to play a more significant role in aiding the country’s future stability.
Vice President JD Vance is set to attend an artificial intelligence summit in Paris before moving on to the Munich Security Conference, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will lead his nation’s delegation. Other key figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, will also participate in the Munich meetings.
Hegseth is expected to take part in discussions focusing on military assistance for Ukraine during an international forum on Wednesday, followed by a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels the next day. The U.K. will host the 26th session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters, although it remains unclear whether this meeting was initiated by the U.K. or at the behest of Washington.
As Russian forces advance and pressure mounts on Kyiv, experts note that Putin may have little incentive to engage in talks, despite Trump’s efforts. The Russian president has previously praised Trump as “clever and pragmatic,” mirroring false claims made by the former U.S. president. While Trump has suggested discussions with Russia regarding Ukraine, there are concerns about bypassing Kyiv in these negotiations, contrary to the Biden administration’s stance supporting Ukraine’s involvement in any decisions regarding the conflict.
The leader of Ukraine has raised concerns that any peace agreement reached without the involvement of Kyiv would send a dangerous message that aggressive behavior is rewarded by authoritarian leaders in countries such as China, North Korea, and Iran. In the meantime, President Trump has suggested that he and President Putin may soon take significant steps towards resolving the ongoing conflict, in which Russia is facing heavy casualties on a daily basis while grappling with tough sanctions from the West, high inflation, and a severe labor shortage. Despite these challenges, the Russian economy has not collapsed. Moreover, due to President Putin’s severe crackdown on dissent reminiscent of Soviet-era tactics, there is little internal pressure for him to end the conflict.
Ukraine is looking to present its case at the Munich security conference, with Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to President Zelenskyy, revealing that the Ukrainian delegation intends to use the platform to outline Kyiv’s stance on bringing an end to the war. Kyiv aims to discuss potential security assurances that could be implemented to deter future aggressive actions by Russia. The Munich summit holds significant importance for Ukraine as the country seeks to foster a relationship with the new U.S. administration, a crucial ally during its prolonged battle against Russia.
(Contributed by Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Paris)
