On March 18, U.S. President Trump spoke with Russian President Putin to discuss a ceasefire in the Russo-Ukrainian war. Trump described the conversation as "productive," but in reality, both sides failed to reach a consensus, only agreeing to pause attacks on each other's energy and infrastructure. Former UK Prime Minister Johnson criticized Putin for mocking the U.S. negotiation efforts. Despite U.S. attempts at mediation, Russia remained unenthusiastic about the ceasefire process and insisted on a series of conditions, including the cessation of foreign military aid to Ukraine and the recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea.
Before this call, Trump had mentioned on social media the possibility of imposing sanctions on Russia, but ultimately the U.S. did not act as expected and instead considered easing sanctions on Russia, demonstrating the U.S.'s urgency to end the war. This allowed Putin to maintain a more relaxed demeanor in negotiations and provided an opportunity to strengthen his influence both domestically and internationally. Putin's "Greater Russia" ideology, which emphasizes Russia's regional authority and military intervention, may render peace talks less about seeking peace and more about further consolidating his leadership position. Overall, if the intentions and mindset of Putin are not understood, Western efforts for peace may likely be ineffective and could trigger greater regional tensions.
