In a recent telephone conversation, US President Donald Trump cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is “playing with fire” amid escalating tensions over Russia’s extensive air assaults on Ukraine. Following their discussion, Putin expressed a commitment to create and deliver a “memorandum of peace” that would outline Russia’s terms for a ceasefire with Ukraine. However, over a week later, the US has yet to receive this document.
In light of the ongoing conflict, which has recently resulted in at least 25 fatalities in Ukraine from missile and drone strikes, Trump is contemplating implementing new sanctions against Moscow. While discussions on potential punitive measures have taken place in recent weeks, Trump has not yet finalised any decisions.
Expressing his concern, Trump stated, “He’s killing a lot of people,” referring to Putin, and questioned what had changed in the Russian leader. In a post on Truth Social, he claimed that, without his intervention, far worse outcomes for Russia would have occurred, emphasising that Putin is indeed “playing with fire.”
The option to impose new sanctions remains on the table; however, it’s not guaranteed that Trump will move forward with this course of action. There are apprehensions that new sanctions could hinder peace negotiations, which may influence his final decision.
During the phone call, Trump advocated for direct communication between Ukraine and Russia to facilitate peace talks, assuring that the US and Europe would offer assistance if necessary. His comments came just after initial peace talks in Turkey between the two nations, where it was anticipated that Russia would follow up with a detailed proposal.
In a statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Russia is drafting a memorandum that would not only set the guidelines for a ceasefire but also address the principles for a peace treaty. She affirmed that this document would be presented to Kyiv once completed, and expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate with their proposals concurrently.
Thus, while diplomatic efforts regarding peace are ongoing, the situation remains fluid and marked by uncertainty, particularly concerning the future actions of both Trump and Putin amidst rising casualties and escalating military operations in Ukraine.