Putin has been waiting for 3 years while Zelensky remains isolated

Putin has been waiting for 3 years while Zelensky remains isolated

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was a central figure in the Western united front against autocratic Russia for over three years. He represented a Churchill-like presence forcing Europe to take a moral stand against a Kremlin leader who had sought to divide and bribe them for years. But at a recent meeting in Kiev, Zelensky appeared greatly diminished as he appeared alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He had hoped to meet US President Donald Trump in person to discuss a comprehensive peace vision, after Trump suggested on Friday they could meet soon. Instead, he was presented with a predominantly financial offer from Bessent, which Zelensky did not sign.

Trump and Putin's secret conversations

During Bessent's brief visit to Kiev, it became known that Trump was otherwise occupied: he may have had his second Phone call in recent days with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said on Saturday that they had spoken previously, although the Kremlin did not confirm this. The situation was exacerbated by the unexpected release of the American prisoner Marc Fogel from Russian custody on Tuesday made things even more complicated. Trump welcomed the 61-year-old to the Stars and Stripes, marking a perfect televised moment of rehabilitation for the Kremlin in the eyes of the American public.

Zelensky's shocking reality

Over the past 48 hours, Zelensky has experienced a nightmare of sleepless nights and inner turmoil. European heads of state used to travel on the dilapidated train for a day to take a photo with it. Now he finds himself in the shadow of Trump, whose priorities are clearly set on Putin – a man under indictment by the International Criminal Court for war crimes against Ukraine and poisoning his own people. The exact contents of the conversation between Trump and Putin are unknown, but it is certain that the Kremlin leader has been waiting for this moment for three years.

The new conditions for a peace solution

Trump's pertinent comments about the progress of the talks with Zelensky also revealed that hopes for key pillars of a peace agreement were dashed by new statements from US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth. Accordingly, Ukraine will not become part of NATO and will not regain its 2014 borders. Peacekeepers between Russia and Ukraine will not come from the United States, but from Europe or other international forces. Europe must take care of its own destiny. These points were not new, but the composition of future peacekeepers became crucial for Zelensky.

The challenge of a European peace mission

In recent weeks, Zelensky had openly called for Americans to be involved in peacekeeping, as security guarantees without the United States were “worthless.” However, Hegseth quickly dispelled these hopes. The idea that the US would send its soldiers into the most dangerous war zones to position them as prime targets was insane. Instead, we are now seeing the emergence of a peace plan similar to that proposed in April by former General Keith Kellogg similar to the proposed approach.

Raw materials as bargaining chips

Rare earths were also discussed at the talks in Kiev, although in the past this is not necessarily seen as a good sign. When Trump briefly considered supporting Afghanistan for its supposed mineral deposits in 2017, he nevertheless made a deal with the Taliban that allowed them to take control two years later. But there are reasons to hope that Trump's approach is based on more stable principles and more thoughtful preparations. His team has apparently had confidential discussions and appears to be articulating a plan that Kellogg formulated some time ago.

Trump and Zelensky's priorities

For Trump, the war in Ukraine is not his top priority. Instead, the person he wants to make peace with is Putin. This is all we need to know, at least for now.