<

div>

Despite unanimous agreement on paper, the actual implementation of a ceasefire in Ukraine appears to be elusive. Donald Trump, Kyiv’s negotiating team, and Russian President Vladimir Putin have all expressed willingness to consider a 30-day ceasefire. The discussions held in Jeddah between the Americans and Kyiv’s team have resulted in an agreement to this proposal. However, Putin has added “nuances” to his acceptance, casting doubt on the immediate feasibility of a ceasefire or sustainable peace.

The challenges lie in Putin’s so-called nuances, which are significant deviations from the initial agreement. At the end of a week of intense diplomacy, it remains uncertain whether a ceasefire, much less a lasting peace, will be attained.

While Trump has actively pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, demanding concessions from Putin seems uncertain. The only public demand Trump made last week was for Putin to spare the lives of allegedly encircled Ukrainian troops, a situation that was disputed by Ukrainian forces and independent military analysts. Putin agreed to consider the proposal only if the Ukrainian troops surrendered first.

This exchange, along with Putin’s praise for Trump’s efforts to improve Russo-American relations, creates the impression that Putin is once again outsmarting his American counterpart. Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko in Kyiv warns that Putin is adept at charming and manipulating Trump, using this to cast doubt on the intentions of the Ukrainian government.

Political analysts suggest that Russia has no intention of accepting a ceasefire unless it serves as a negotiating point for a more significant settlement favorable to the Kremlin. Russia believes there is a “real Ukraine” separate from Zelenskyy, consisting of individuals open to better relations with Russia.

Discussions among Western leaders, such as Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, regarding a military coalition to enforce a peace seem distant from Russia’s current stance. While Merkel and Macron are attempting to unite Western nations in aid of an enduring peace, Russia’s position remains at odds with these efforts.

The upcoming challenge lies in Trump’s willingness to persistently press Moscow when confronted with the magnitude of Putin’s “nuances.” The power dynamics of Trump’s negotiator Steve Witkoff’s recent visit to Moscow, where he was reportedly kept waiting for eight hours, highlight the complexities of these negotiations.

A positive development for Ukraine was the apparent improvement in US-Ukraine relations following the diplomatic mishap at the White House. The discussions in Saudi Arabia were led by more traditional foreign policy advisors of the Trump administration, as opposed to those known for their aversion to Ukraine.

The negotiations, led by Ukrainian Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, were marked by methodical discussions and a sense of fatigue-driven potential for compromise. Yermak’s observations hint at the often-overlooked impact of human exhaustion on historical decisions.

Following these discussions, an agreement was reached for Ukraine to agree to a 30-day ceasefire in exchange for the US resuming intelligence sharing and weapons deliveries. However, the coordination and commitment of the US to the deal remain questionable.

<

p class=”dcr-s3ycb2″>Should Trump manage to convince Putin to adhere to the 30-day ceasefire, the focus will shift toward transforming it into a lasting peace. However, issues surrounding the monitoring of such a ceasefire along the unstable frontline pose additional challenges.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/15/the-big-question-on-ukraine-is-trump-ready-to-push-putin-into-peace