Sense of contact: Putin and Trump agree on diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis
The telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, which took place on February 12, lasted almost an hour and a half. During this time, the leaders, in particular, discussed the exchange of Russian and US citizens. Moscow and Washington managed to agree on the return of Alexander Vinnik and Mark Vogel. In addition, the politicians touched on the Ukrainian crisis - Trump spoke in favor of an early halt to hostilities. Putin expressed readiness to receive American officials in Russia on those areas of work that are of mutual interest, including the Ukrainian settlement. In addition, Putin and Trump agreed to organize a personal meeting. What other issues the presidents discussed and about what after that the American leader spoke with Vladimir Zelensky - in the material "Izvestia".
Prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States
The telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, which took place on Wednesday, is apparently the first conversation between the two leaders since the return of the Republican to the White House. Before that, media reports about contacts between the presidents appeared in the media, and Trump said on February 9 that he allegedly discussed the Ukrainian issue with Putin, but there were no clear and official confirmations afterwards. On this basis, the past conversation between Putin and Trump is the first since July 2020. In addition, this is the first conversation between the leaders of Russia and the United States in exactly three years - the last time Vladimir Putin spoke with Joe Biden on February 12, 2022.
Mark Vogel during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House
According to the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov, the conversation lasted a total of almost an hour and a half. The parties, in particular, discussed issues related to the exchange of Russian and US citizens. Washington guaranteed the Russian side the fulfillment of the agreements reached.
On February 11, it became known that Moscow released Mark Fogel, an ex-employee of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, sentenced to 14 years. He was pardoned by Vladimir Putin. Fogel returned to the States by airplane together with Trump's special envoy for the Middle East Steve Whitkoff - his trip to Moscow was the first visit of a high-ranking US official to the Russian Federation since 2021. It was through him, as the media write, the issue of the American's return home was decided.
Meanwhile, Alexander Vinnik is returning to his homeland from the United States. Alexander's mother, Vera Vinnik, told Izvestia that this event will be a great birthday present for one of his sons on February 14. Vinnik was detained at the request of the United States back in 2017 while vacationing in Greece. He was accused of laundering between $4 billion and $9 billion through a now-defunct online cryptocurrency exchange. He was later extradited to the United States.
Vera Vinnik
- There is a difference between this and the massive summer exchange that took place last August. Back then, there was a utilitarian goal - we hate each other, but we exchange. Now it is perceived as a goodwill gesture to create a positive context for the beginning of a fruitful dialog between the two countries. It is clear that the negotiations will be difficult and long, but these contacts that have begun are already being conducted in a different atmosphere," Konstantin Blokhin, a leading researcher at the Center for Security Studies, explained to Izvestia.
On August 1, the largest prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus and the West since the Cold War took place. The exchange fund amounted to 26 people, 10 of whom returned to the Russian Federation. The operation took place on the territory of Turkey. It involved Russia, Belarus, Slovenia, the United States, Norway and Poland. As a result of the deal, Vadim Krasikov, Roman Seleznev, Mikhail Mikushin, Pavel Rubtsov, Vladislav Klyushin, Vadim Konoschenok, Artem and Anna Dultsev and their two minor children returned home.
The White House also reported on the release of three more people - this time from Belarus. One of them is a U.S. citizen, formerly working for Radio Liberty (recognized in the Russian Federation as a media agent and included in the register of undesirable organizations). The White House refused to disclose the identity of the American. Belarus also released two of its citizens from prison, one of them - journalist Andrei Kuznchik. According to information in the media, all of them are now in Lithuania.
Putin and Trump discussed the Ukrainian settlement
The two leaders also focused on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. The Kremlin reported that Donald Trump spoke in favor of an early halt to hostilities and solving the problem by peaceful means. Vladimir Putin recalled the need to address the root causes of the conflict and agreed with his American counterpart that a long-term settlement could be achieved through peaceful negotiations.
The Russian leader invited the US president to visit Moscow and expressed readiness to receive US officials in Russia on areas of work that are of mutual interest, including the topic of Ukrainian settlement. Putin and Trump agreed to continue contacts, including the organization of personal meetings. Thus, there is a possibility that Trump could become the first U.S. president to visit Russia since 2013, that is, since the Ukrainian crisis broke out.
Undoubtedly, the conversation between the two leaders is a positive signal for the beginning of the process of resolving international crises.
- Now, most likely, instructions will be given to the relevant services, diplomats, and the military to work out a trip to meet the leaders, and this is where it will become clear how compatible the current positions of the parties are, so this is a necessary condition for the start of dialog, but not sufficient. Much here will depend on work at lower levels," Andrei Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, told Izvestia.
It is noteworthy that after his conversation with the Russian head of state, the US president continued phone diplomacy and contacted Vladimir Zelensky. According to Trump, the conversation went "very well". "He, like President Putin, wants to make peace", the American president wrote on his social network Truth Social. They also discussed Zelensky's upcoming meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference.
Despite Trump's words, it is worth noting that it is Kiev's position that is blocking the start of peace talks. First, there is a decree in place that essentially prohibits the Ukrainian authorities from negotiating with the Russian leadership. Secondly, Russia has questions about Zelensky's legitimacy, as Ukraine did not hold elections last year and, according to its constitution, in the current situation the only legitimate authority is the Verkhovna Rada.
In addition, Zelensky continues to insist on the country joining NATO, although in his last interview he admitted: the expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance is unlikely due to the position of the United States, Hungary and Germany. Slovakia is also known to be against it. For Moscow, Ukraine's non-aligned status is one of the key requirements, as NATO's eastward expansion is perceived by the Russian Federation as a serious threat to national security.
Russian-Ukrainian talks at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul
We should not forget that Russia has repeatedly declared its readiness to negotiate, but taking into account the real situation on the ground and the agreements that were reached in Istanbul in 2022. At that time, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations almost came to an agreement that could have avoided further escalation, but Kiev eventually withdrew from the negotiation process.
Therefore, it is not excluded that Trump will try to urge Zelensky to change his position on these directions. On the other hand, the US after the change of administration makes it clear to Ukraine: it does not intend to continue military support on the scale that the Joe Biden administration did.
The order of the calls is also important: initially, Washington called Moscow and only then Kiev, thus making Ukraine aware of what fate it may face in the future, said Tigran Meloyan, an analyst at the Center for Mediterranean Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
- The call puts a fat point in Russia's so-called international isolation. Without direct dialog with Moscow, as it turns out, certain international issues, especially in the security sphere, cannot be resolved," the expert said.
In general, in Russia, the contacts between Trump and Putin are assessed as positive, nevertheless, it is too early to say that they can become such for the relations between Russia and the West. Dissatisfaction with the results of today's negotiations can be traced in Europe, and there are those in American political circles who have characterized them as a capitulation to Moscow.
- It is also noteworthy that the Russian side voiced the need to address the root causes of the conflict, behind which lies the whole complex of problems. This includes the issue of language oppression, national and cultural oppression. Thus, a rather long and thorny path is outlined, during which there will be many more contacts, but it is important that the parties are ready to overcome it through dialogue," Meloyan stresses.
Putin and Trump discussed the conflict in the Middle East and the Iran deal
The leaders also touched upon the Middle East settlement. Both Russia and the US could play a constructive role in normalizing the situation in the region. According to Andrei Kortunov, there are possible points of common ground here, for example, the prospects of restoring the Middle East Quartet (an association of the EU, Russia, the US and the UN to consolidate efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict). At the same time, the positions of Russia and the US may differ, for example, on the issue of restoring the Gaza Strip. The other day, Trump said that the Palestinians will not have the right to go back because they will have "much better housing." By this he means neighboring countries such as. Jordan and Egypt.
Funding for the project, he believes, should be taken up by the rich states in the region. Such a bold initiative was expectedly rejected in both countries, as was Hamas. The movement believes that the Palestinian people should remain on their own land. It is the need to have its own territory that underlies Moscow's rhetoric. In particular, Putin has said that violence in the Middle East will not end until UN resolutions are implemented and an independent State of Palestine is established. On Trump's plan, the Kremlin does not yet have a clear position. Russia is following the developments in the Middle East, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. During their conversation, Putin and Trump likely touched on the topic of hostages. Russian Alexander Trufanov still remains in Gaza - he was supposed to be released back in the first phase of the deal between Israel and Hamas.
Putin and Trump also discussed the Iran nuclear deal. The US withdrew from it in 2019, which significantly contributed to the Islamic Republic's nuclear capabilities. Now the parties to the agreement, including Tehran, say they are ready for talks, awaiting a response from the new US administration. By the way, Trump himself has said that he would prefer to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran rather than "bomb it." Given that Russia and Iran elevated bilateral relations to the status of a comprehensive strategic partnership this year, Moscow could play a key role in returning to a deal or similar format. At the very least, the Russian position coincides with the U.S. position that Iran should not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
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