Can Ukraine reach peace?

Today there is a zoom meeting of “willing states” to discuss progress and Putin chaired by Starmer. Zelensky is calling on allies to put pressure on Putin to accept the US proposal for a cease fire to allow for negotiation.

But:

Meanwhile it’s more than interesting to see how Russia is being “re framed” by the Republicans.

Republican Russophilia: how Trump Putin-ised a party of cold war hawks

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/15/republicans-russia-putin-trump

This is how Trump has managed to turn many Republicans into “Russia lovers”. At its extremes,

“All are familiar talking points from the Maga playbook. Indeed, last year, on the rightwing strategist Steven Bannon’s War Room podcast, the Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said:

Let’s talk about what this really is, Steve: this is a war against Christianity. The Ukrainian government is attacking Christians; the Ukrainian government is executing priests. Russia is not doing that; they’re not attacking Christianity. As a matter of fact, they seem to be protecting it

Bannon has made no secret of his desire to bring down the European Union and “globalist” forces. Joel Rubin, a former deputy assistant secretary of state under Barack Obama, draws a comparison with conservative “red” states and liberal “blue” states within the US. “Let’s make it real American tangible,” he said. “Russia is a red state and France and England and Nato – they’re blue states.”

Great post M0nica; I agree that Zelensky just needs to appear willing to do a deal. Putin doesn't want peace and Trump's bully boy tactics are very unlikely to work with a fellow bully.

I honestly believe that Z is prepared to compromise nanna but he's the only one.

Putin and all his ambassadors are very clear that they will not negotiate peace unless Ukraine agrees not to join NATO and agree to releasing territories.. They will not budge no matter how much Trump tries to bully them.. I think he has seriously misjudged his relationship with Putin.

It really seems to be to be stale mate.. and that they are a long way off any peace negotiations..

I made the big mistake of watching Trump talk to the nation last night. It was difficult for me to understand what he was trying to say. I wonder if Trump spends all his time telling Putin how wonderful Trump is.
So with Trump talking to Putin - there are bound to be cultural obstacles to communication but why would Putin fall in line with Trump? Anything Trump can threaten, so can Putin.
Seems to me that from the beginning of 2022, Putin had clear objectives which are taking longer to deliver than he thought. Has he added to his requirements for land over the last two years? We just don’t know what will stop the war despite all the rhetoric.

Compromise is needed on all sides but they are all stubborn men. Pity it isn’t women in charge.

I think it must be hell on earth thinking that the fate of your nation rests upon the whims of those two men. Why should they have so much power over another sovereign nation? I am in awe of the courage and fortitude of President Zelenskyy . He has shown great strength of purpose throughout this war and is the real hero whatever the outcome.

I imagine Zelensky has made some compromises he definitely didnt want to, nor his people: Trump so confident and his arrogance thinking he and Putin had an "understanding.

keeping quiet that’s really in very poor taste.

Both Presidents Putin and Trump primarily are concerned about their own interests and standing in the world. President Zelensky argues for his country’s interests and is the grown-up in the room. I think MOnica is right that he will let the other two squabble while he gets on with defending his country and its citizens as best as he can. I wish I shared the American optimism.

Is that meant to be a joke keepingquiet? If so, I don’t find it funny.

I think Russian and Ukraine will finish up as friends because they may soon realise their dislike of Trump is worse than their hatred of each other and they'll want to get rid of him.

Putin may also just send some novichok across to the WH or just get someone to push Trump out of a windown somewhere...

Trumps' self-vaunted skills as a deal maker are going to be shown up when he fails to get Putin to agree to anything fixed.

Zelensky just needs to appear willing to do a deal and then leave Trump to discover that dealing with Putin is like trying to grasp water. Zelensky can thenget on with running his country, conducting a war, while the other two witter.

Zelensky is right in saying Putin is manipulating the situation. The only result Putin wants is Ukraine as a part of Russia but he is putting obstacles in the way of a ceasefire.
He is trying to keep Trump on side by half agreeing. Saying he wants peace but only on his terms.

winterwhite

He is like Trump in never wanting to concede anything. Seems clear that Trump misread Putin and didn't expect this to happen, though it was pretty predictable.

Yes, I think so.

Despite what Trump says about "ratings" (disproved) there is a strong chance he could be re-elected. But clearly Trump has some other figure in mind who would settle differently?

He is like Trump in never wanting to concede anything. Seems clear that Trump misread Putin and didn't expect this to happen, though it was pretty predictable.

While Putin is in power, any 'peace' will be a charade.

He doesn't want one. He just wants complet capitulation and to get it he will want Zelensky out. Neither is going to happen.