Tentative peace talks begin Between Russia and Ukraine
After over eleven years of conflict, world leaders have met to discuss a resolution to the Russo-Ukrainian war. President Donald Trump, who made promises to end the conflict in his first 24 hours in office, has been in negotiation talks with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since mid-February.
At its core, the war has been fought over international influence and dominance. Since Ukraine gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has aspired to regain dominion of the country, or at the very least, save it from the influence of Western Europe and the US. When Russia first invaded Ukraine on Feb. 22, 2022, Putin gave a speech in which he justified the attack, calling Ukraine a militant and neo-Nazi state.
“...Russia has a moral obligation to do something about security in the region,” Putin said. “...Ukraine is a puppet of the West…”
Then-President Joe Biden interpreted the attack differently and made comments about what it potentially signaled about Putin’s aspirations.
“[Putin] wants to, in fact, reestablish the former Soviet Union. That's what this is about,” Biden said.
Meeting in Saudi Arabia and over the phone, Trump and U.S. officials began working with Putin and Russia on peace negotiations in February. Zelenskyy, notably absent from these initial talks, criticized Trump and Putin for seemingly going over his head and said Ukraine would not agree to a deal in which Ukraine doesn’t have a hand. Trump and Zelenskyy have further butted heads in regard to U.S. military aid. According to the Department of State, the Biden Administration provided over $60 billion in aid free of charge. Trump has attempted to create a deal for mining Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits in exchange for continued aid. Despite Zelenskyy’s rejection of the deal, the U.S. has continued providing aid for the time being. According to a Pew Research Center poll, of the 75 percent of Americans who felt strongly, 45 percent of citizens believe the aid the U.S. is providing to Ukraine is warranted while 30 percent believe it is too much.
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy exploded on Feb. 28 when a televised meeting between the presidents escalated into a shouting match. Zelenskyy sparked the argument by offending Vice President JD Vance with his perceived lack of respect for the Trump Administration and criticism of its diplomacy.
“You will feel [the repercussions of the war] in the future,” Zelenskyy said.
“You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel,” Trump said. “...You’re not in a good position, you don’t have the cards right now… You’re gambling with World War III.”
The leaders spoke over each other for several minutes about a ceasefire deal and American aid. The argument was interrupted by a reporter’s question about the possibility of Russia breaking the ceasefire. Trump casted doubt on this occurrence, claiming Russia would not break a ceasefire and stating that Putin has an apparent respect for him. The president went on to comment extensively on the 2016 election controversy surrounding Russia’s involvement and how it strengthened his relationship with Putin. Finishing the impromptu speech, the president dismissed the press.
“This is gonna be great television, I’ll tell you that much,” Trump said.
Natan Krylov (’25) is a Russian-born student who lived in the country until 2022. After protesting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Krylov’s mother was briefly incarcerated and beaten in jail, before moving herself and her son to the U.S.. He pointed out that not all Russians are in favor of the war and highlighted the devastating casualties of both Russian and Ukrainian people.
“This is a crime against humanity, against all people in Russia and Ukraine,” Krylov said. “I think that the U.S. must push both Russia and Ukraine to sign a peace treaty.”
Trump and his administration have been determined to work out a deal between the warring nations. On March 7, Trump stated he is "strongly considering" imposing sweeping sanctions and tariffs on Russia until peace agreements are made. This would create extra leverage for Ukraine in negotiations who currently appear unwilling to give up territory and a possible admittance to NATO. In a NATO press conference on Feb. 12, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and suggested that the country should abandon hopes of returning to its pre-2014 borders and prepare for a negotiated settlement.
While the war has only been at the forefront of international news since Russia’s invasion in 2022, it began in February of 2014 following Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity. The Revolution of Dignity started after then-president Viktor Yanukovych's decision to not sign a political association and free trade agreement with the European Union. Yanukovych chose closer ties to Russia and was ousted by protesters as a result. Ukraine reinstated its 2004 Constitution of Ukraine and shifted their political allegiance away from Russia and towards the West. In response to Ukraine’s attempted distancing, Russia annexed Crimea and supported pro-Russia Separatists’ attempt to secede from Eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region in a conflict known as the Donbas War.
The war was hyper-escalated as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine following Ukraine’s refusal to vow never to join NATO. Since the invasion, the war has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians. Of Ukraine’s population of 41 million, 16 million people have been displaced, eight million domestically and eight million internationally. The sheer number of casualties and refugees rivals no conflict since World War II.
While Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections during wartime, Trump and Putin have still criticized Zelenskyy for overstaying his term. Trump has gone as far as to call the Ukrainian president a dictator as well as pushed the Kremlin narrative that Ukraine started the war.
On Feb. 23, Zelenskyy proposed stepping down as president if it would mean an end to the conflict and Ukraine’s admission to NATO. On the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Zelenskyy spoke to a forum of government officials in Kyiv.
"If to achieve peace, you really need me to give up my post, I'm ready," Zelenskyy said.
The war is not over and tensions between Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin remain high. Negotiations may last for a while as the parties struggle to make a deal that fulfills both parties’ priorities.