Russian state media has proclaimed a decisive triumph for the Kremlin following a high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, aimed at finalising a peace deal to end the nearly four-year conflict with Russia.
Mar-a-Lago Talks Hit Sticking Points
The summit, held at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday, was intended to push towards a resolution of the protracted war. However, reports indicate the leaders encountered significant hurdles, with several "thorny issues" related to territory remaining unresolved.
During discussions, President Trump addressed the contentious issue of land, stating, "I think the land you're talking about, some of that land has been taken. Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months, and you're better off making a deal." This perspective, perceived as sympathetic to the Russian position, has been seized upon in Moscow as a major diplomatic advantage.
Russian Media's 'Grandmaster' Celebration
Prominent Russian state broadcaster Vladimir Solovyov wasted no time in framing the event as a masterstroke for President Vladimir Putin. On his evening show, Solovyov exuberantly declared, "We have achieved a knockout victory, we prepared on a grandmaster's level on all the main points and it worked."
He further claimed that a critical phone call between Washington and Moscow occurred just before President Zelensky's arrival, which "completely destroyed Zelensky’s plans." Solovyov added, "Everything was extremely precise, and of course Zelensky started to melt, he melted down." While such statements from Kremlin-linked media require sceptical analysis, they offer a clear window into the optimistic mood within Russian official circles regarding the potential terms of any agreement.
Alarm in Kyiv and Reconstruction Pledges
The tone of the talks has sparked deep concern in Ukraine. Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and founder of the humanitarian aid non-profit Hope for Ukraine, criticised President Trump's approach as dangerously unrealistic. "This treats Putin as a co-partner whose approval is needed, signalling to Kyiv that peace will come on Moscow's terms – not international law," Boyechko stated.
At a joint press conference, President Trump characterised Vladimir Putin as wanting to see the war end and being "very generous" towards Ukrainian success. Notably, the US President pledged that Russia would assist with Ukraine's reconstruction by providing cheap energy and electricity, a suggestion that further alarmed observers in Kyiv.
The meeting follows reported tensions between the two leaders earlier this year. In February, a meeting in the Oval Office concerning a deal on sharing Ukraine's mineral resources reportedly ended in a shouting match, with President Trump accusing President Zelensky of being "disrespectful" for pressing for security guarantees, leaving the Ukrainian leader empty-handed.
The aftermath of the Mar-a-Lago summit now sets the stage for a critical phase in the conflict, with Russian media boasting of victory and Ukrainian allies watching apprehensively as the final details of a potential peace deal are negotiated.
