Ukraine has launched a scathing attack on Vladimir Putin, accusing the Russian president of squandering international efforts for peace, following a fruitless meeting between US and Kremlin officials.
Diplomatic Stalemate and Sharp Words
The White House had expressed optimism for a potential breakthrough ahead of the talks, which involved US peace envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the former president's son-in-law. However, the pair returned from their mission on Tuesday without securing any progress.
In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha did not mince his words on Wednesday. "Russia must end the bloodshed it has started," he declared. "If this doesn’t happen and Putin just spits into the world’s face once again, there must be consequences." He directly accused the Russian leader of "wasting the world’s time".
This stark assessment came as former US President Donald Trump offered a contrasting view, suggesting Putin desires an end to the conflict. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, "He would like to end the war. I think he’d like to get back to dealing a more normal life." Regarding the recent meeting, he added, "I think we have something pretty well worked out with Ukraine, they’re very satisfied."
EU Ramps Up Economic Pressure on Moscow
As diplomatic channels falter, the European Union is advancing significant new economic measures aimed at crippling Russia's war finances. The European Commission has tabled a radical proposal to use emergency powers to seize frozen Russian assets, aiming to create a fund for Ukraine.
This fund would act as a €90 billion 'reparations loan' to support Ukraine's finances for the next two years. The plan includes a mechanism to overrule a veto from Belgium, which hosts the Euroclear securities house holding €185 billion in frozen Russian assets. Belgium has expressed legal concerns about transferring the cash, fearing retaliation from Moscow.
In a parallel move, EU lawmakers and member states have finalised a deal to ban all imports of Russian gas by autumn 2027. This decision is a key part of the bloc's strategy to choke off the revenue streams feeding Moscow's war machine.
Core Disputes Blocking a Peace Deal
The fundamental obstacles to any peace agreement remain deeply entrenched. The primary point of contention is territory. The Kremlin is insisting it retains control of the entirety of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, including areas its forces have not yet captured militarily. Ukraine has consistently refused to cede any territory not already seized by Russia.
Another major sticking point for any future settlement is the future size of Ukraine's armed forces, with Russia likely to demand strict limitations. With such vast differences on these core issues, and with the EU preparing unprecedented financial sanctions, the path to diplomacy appears fraught with difficulty.
