Trust in Putin's Willingness to End Ukraine War
If Russia Had Remained in G8, Ukraine Conflict Might Have Been Avoided
Hopes to Resume Arms Reduction Talks with China and Russia
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war on the 13th (local time). When the U.S. decided to start peace talks with Russia excluding Ukraine, a party to the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky protested, saying, "We will not accept this." President Trump also emphasized the necessity of the G8 system, stating that if Russia had remained in the Group of Eight (G8) meetings after its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the Ukraine war might not have broken out. He also revealed plans to soon attempt talks with China and Russia on nuclear arms reduction.
On the same day, after signing a mutual tariff memorandum at the White House, President Trump responded to reporters' questions about whether he believed Putin's statement that he wants peace regarding negotiations to end the Ukraine war by saying, "I believe he wants peace."
He added, "If he didn't (want peace), he would have told me," and said, "I trust him on this matter. He wants to see something happen."
President Trump said that he had agreed with President Putin in a phone call the previous day to start negotiations to end the Ukraine war and had informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of this.
Concerns have arisen within Ukraine and European countries that President Trump might be negotiating with President Putin in a way favorable to Russia, effectively excluding Ukraine. This is because Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth effectively rejected the conditions Ukraine had demanded for peace talks. There were suggestions that a peace plan mainly reflecting Russia's demands might be reached.
In response to such criticism, President Trump emphasized on the same day, "They are also part of it," and said, "This war must end."
Regarding Russia's expulsion from the G8 meetings following its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, President Trump said, "I think excluding them was a mistake," adding, "This is not about liking or disliking Russia. It was the G8. I want them to come back." He further stated, "If Russia had been in the G8, the Ukraine issue might not have occurred."
During his first term in office, President Trump had also proposed reintegrating Russia into the G8 system by allowing it to participate in the Group of Seven (G7) summits.
President Trump also reiterated his hope to resume talks with China and Russia on nuclear and arms reduction. He said, "Once the situation stabilizes, I will meet with China and Russia," adding, "So the military would have almost no reason to spend $1 trillion, and we could use that money elsewhere."
He continued, "Once things settle down, the first talks I want to have are about reducing nuclear weapons with China and Russia and not having to spend money on weapons," and said, "I want to talk about cutting military spending in half."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has effectively been excluded from the Ukraine war negotiation table, stated on the same day that he would not accept a peace agreement if the U.S. and Russia concluded it excluding Ukraine.
According to Reuters and AFP, President Zelensky, while departing to attend the Munich Security Conference (14th?16th), told reporters, "As an independent country, we will not accept any agreement from which we are excluded." He also emphasized that Europe should participate at the negotiation table when the war ends. This is interpreted as a request to counter concerns that if the U.S. and Russia lead the negotiations, they might present peace negotiation guidelines mainly reflecting Russia's demands.
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