Putin praises Trump as leaders eye breakthrough in Ukraine conflict

[Ryan Robertson]

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN BROKE HIS SILENCE ON U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S VICTORY, OFFERING CONGRATULATIONS AND PRAISE WHILE SIGNALING A READINESS TO TALK. WITH RUSSIA’S UNPROVOKED WAR IN UKRAINE GRINDING ON, PUTIN IS HIGHLIGHTING TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO EASE TENSIONS –BUT MADE IT CLEAR MOSCOW’S DEMANDS REMAIN UNCHANGED.

SPEAKING AT A MEETING IN SOCHI, PUTIN CONGRATULATED TRUMP ON HIS ELECTION VICTORY, AND SAID THE PRESIDENT ELECT’S RESPONSE TO A JULY ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT WAS QUOTE “COURAGEOUS AND MANLY.”

ACCOLADES ASIDE– THE TWO LEADERS HAD YET TO SPEAK BY PUBLISH TIME. .

PUTIN ACKNOWLEDGES TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO IMPROVE TIES WITH RUSSIA AND ADDRESS THE WAR IN UKRAINE, THOUGH HE NOTED THESE WERE ELECTION STATEMENTS. THE KREMLIN REMAINS FIRM ON ITS DEMANDS: UKRAINE MUST ABANDON NATO ASPIRATIONS AND WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM REGIONS CLAIMED BY RUSSIA.

THE KREMLIN EMPHASIZED THESE TERMS ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE, EVEN AS PUTIN SIGNALED A WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE.

TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS ABOUT ENDING THE WAR WITHIN 24 HOURS FUELED SPECULATION ABOUT HOW EXACTLY THAT WOULD WORK. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY DISMISSED THE IDEA, SAYING ANY RAPID DEAL WOULD LIKELY COME AT TOO GREAT A COST TO UKRAINE. FORMER U.S. ENVOY TO UKRAINE KURT VOLKER ARGUED ANY RESOLUTION WOULD REQUIRE CONVINCING PUTIN THE CONFLICT IS NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE.

ULTIMATELY, ANALYSTS ARE SPLIT ON HOW TRUMP WILL HANDLE THE CONFLICT. SOME BELIEVE HE COULD PRESSURE PUTIN BY BOOSTING U.S. OIL PRODUCTION OR CREATING A LEND-LEASE PROGRAM TO ARM UKRAINE. OTHERS SAY MR. TRUMP’S ADMIRATION FOR PUTIN COULD BE BAD NEWS FOR UKRAINE

REGARDLESS, RELATIONS RIGHT NOW BETWEEN MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON ARE AT A HISTORIC LOW, STRAINED BY U.S. SANCTIONS AND SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

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