Honking Horns for Peace Talks: The U.S. and Russia's Tango in Ukraine
The United States and Russia are planning to establish top-tier delegations to engage in discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The United States and Russia have hit the dancefloor, ready to sashay into peace talks over Ukraine's woes, according to State Department's Tammy Bruce. But the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, ain't having none of it without Ukraine being a part of this grand Waltz!
Keys to the Ballroom
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, danced their way to an agreement in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. They pledged to appoint "high-level teams" to end this Ukrainian war- dance in a lasting, sustainable fashion, palatable to all.
But, have Ukraine's movers and shakers been invited to this dance party? Well, they were missing in action at the meet-and-greet, but Rubio hinted EU needs to cut a rug eventually.
Both nations will now spell out a waltz routine in the mutual geopolitical interest, aiming to pluck some historical economic and investment opportunities from this war's end-product.
Catching Zelensky's Eye
Zelensky told NBC News that he'd kick up his heels at any negotiations, minus the U.S. and Russia, drawing their own decisions about Ukraine. He trusts Trump to herd cats on Russia's side but worries Putin (the dance-floor bully) would seize this ceasefire to rehearse for a future annexation show!
This Dance, or That Dance?
Uncertainty shrouds whether the Big Two will break bread soon, reportedly followed by Rubio and Lavrov's tango. But the Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, and Putin's advisor, Yuri Ushakov, remain mum on any impending date.
History of the Foxtrot
Last week, Trump led the conga line to call for peace talks promptly. He insists he could whip this war to a halt within a day of re-election. His old hobbyhorse: If he'd been president in 2022, this conflict wouldn't have jiggled our way!
A happy week of phone convos bubbled between Trump and Putin, staging their first chitchat in nearly three quaint years. The Trump administration, however, has grown weary of Ukraine's elusive security assurances, pressed for secession of Russian territory, and NATO's cool reception to Ukraine's leapfrog proposals.
Further Reading or Dancing Shoes?
To put your best foot forward, explore this bibliography on the current flow of negotiations and the roles that each nation plays. You may be cued for that dance performance coming soon!
- Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his reservations about participating in peace talks led by the United States and Russia, stating that Ukraine must be a part of any negotiations regarding its troubles.
- During a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, agreed to appoint high-level teams to end the ongoing Ukrainian conflict in a lasting and sustainable manner.
- Despite the absence of Ukrainian representatives at the meeting, Secretary Rubio indicated that the European Union would eventually need to join in the peace talks.
- Following the meeting, both the United States and Russia announced their plans to negotiate a waltz routine in the mutual geopolitical interest, with the goal of finding historical economic and investment opportunities once the conflict is resolved.
- In a phone conversation, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the possibility of holding peace talks, with Trump emphasizing his belief that he could quickly end the conflict if he were still in office.
