US Initiative Sparks Hope for Ukraine Peace Talks as Europe Hopes to Take Subsutantial Role in Initiative

A flurry of diplomatic activity has erupted following a direct engagement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a potential breakthrough in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Al Jazeera reports.

President Trump announced on Wednesday that he had a “highly productive” phone call with President Putin and indicated a possible in-person meeting in the near future to discuss pathways to peace. He subsequently briefed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on the call, underscoring the importance of finding a swift resolution to the three-year conflict.

“I think they have to make peace, that people are being killed, and I think they have to make peace…” said President Trump.

The US initiative has garnered mixed reactions. While some European leaders expressed concern regarding potential concessions to Russia before negotiations begin, others acknowledged the need for a renewed push towards a peaceful settlement.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Trump administration’s approach. He said that aiming to restore Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is “an unrealistic objective” and that prolonging the war in pursuit of such a goal would only lead to further suffering. Hegseth also clarified that US policy does not include NATO membership for Ukraine as a likely outcome of negotiations.

The Defense Secretary refuted suggestions that the US was betraying Kyiv, asserting that the pursuit of a negotiated peace is in the interest of the entire world. He lauded President Trump as “the best negotiator on the planet, bringing two sides together to find a negotiated peace,” while also urging European NATO allies to increase their defense spending. Hegseth affirmed that the US would not deploy troops on the ground.

The Kremlin has expressed interest in broader negotiations with the US, encompassing European security and addressing Moscow’s concerns, which include a proposed rollback of NATO to its 1997 borders.

China has welcomed the proposed talks between Presidents Trump and Putin, with a Foreign Affairs spokesman:

“Russia and the US are both influential pow

ers, and China welcomes their efforts to strengthen communication and dialogue on a range of international issues.” Beijing has consistently advocated for a negotiated resolution to the crisis, with President Xi Jinping emphasizing the need for a political solution since the conflict’s inception.