Réactions à l’appel Trump-Poutine sur l’Ukraine : Zelensky, Macron, Starmer
Dans le monde diplomatique, every phone call counts. This rings especially true for the recent conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Trump, who famously vowed to end the war in Ukraine within « 24 hours, » found himself unable to secure a 30-day ceasefire from Putin, despite two months passing since his return to the White House. Volodymyr Zelensky had previously given his unconditional approval for such a ceasefire, but Putin only agreed to a limited one-month truce focused on energy infrastructure after a more than 2-hour conversation on Tuesday, March 18th.
Zelensky’s Quest for Clarity
As Zelensky embarked on a state visit to Helsinki, he expressed his willingness to consider a 30-day halt to strikes on energy infrastructure, but insisted on having detailed discussions about the next steps. « I think it would be fair for us to have a conversation with President Trump and know in detail what the Russians have offered to the Americans, or what the Americans have offered to the Russians, » he remarked. Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social to share his optimism, describing the conversation as « positive and productive. » He emphasized the immediate ceasefire on energy infrastructure and expressed the shared goal of swiftly achieving a comprehensive ceasefire and ultimately ending the devastating war between Russia and Ukraine.
Poutine’s Call for Surrender and a Ukrainian Lawmaker’s Response
From Berlin, Emmanuel Macron applauded the recent developments as steps in the right direction but dismissed the idea of an immediate halt to military aid to Kyiv. « We continue to support the Ukrainian army in its resistance to Russian aggression, and we are right to do so, » Macron stated. He stressed the importance of a measurable and verifiable ceasefire to kickstart detailed peace talks for a lasting and robust peace. German Chancellor Scholz echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need for a complete ceasefire as soon as possible. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer engaged in discussions with President Zelensky to review the progress made by President Trump towards a ceasefire, reaffirming the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine.
Washington and Moscow’s Silence on Crucial Territory Issues
Notably absent from the conversation between Trump and Putin was any mention of the crucial issue of territories seized by Russia. Ukrainian lawmaker Inna Sovsun condemned what she called the « trap » of Putin’s so-called peace plan. She criticized the demands for Ukraine to demobilize, disarm, forgo all foreign military aid, and intelligence support as tantamount to surrender rather than de-escalation.
In the complex and high-stakes world of international diplomacy, every conversation has the potential to shape the course of history. As the conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold, the decisions made by global leaders in these critical moments will have far-reaching implications for the future of the region and beyond. Only time will tell if Trump and Putin’s latest exchange will pave the way for a lasting peace or simply mark another chapter in the ongoing saga of this tragic conflict.
