Ugly Brexit, Russian Dominance, and the Danger of Russian Diplomacy: Comment on Zelenskyy’s tweet on Good Friday
The urgency reflects a deadline: Trump gave his team 100 days to find a deal after reengaging with Putin in February. Meanwhile, Ukraine has signaled openness to a ceasefire, though Russia has delayed.
Zelenskyy thinks the Trump administration has continued their current policy with their soft response. “I believe they think that this kind of diplomacy, this format, will help bring the war to an end.”
According to the officials in Ukraine, at least two people were killed by Russian drones and missiles. Zelenskyy wrote that Russia was maiming his people and cities on Good Friday.
“It’s very dangerous because he’s consciously or unconsciously spreading Russian narratives,” Zelenskyy said. “And he does not have the mandate to discuss Ukrainian territories, because our territory belongs to our people.”
The Paris meeting between U.S. presidents and Russia’s envoys: “We want a stable and sustainable peace” and the Ukrainian-Russia war
The Paris meeting, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, included U.S. officials Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Germany. It showed a shift towards more European involvement in the U.S. peace efforts.
Everyone wants peace. A robust and sustainable peace,” Macron said while meeting the U.S. delegation at Élysée Palace. The question is about the way it is phased.
“Lots of productive meetings at Elysee Palace on the issues regarding the Ukrainian- Russia war” wrote Kellogg, who also posted a picture of himself with the Ukrainians.
The State Department said Rubio later spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and said the administration has “now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace.” A number of meetings with Russian President Putin have taken place.
Ukrainians have criticized Witkoff for statements made to Fox News that a potential peace deal could center on the status of five Ukrainian territories. The Kremlin illegally annexed the southern region of Crimea in 2014 and, since its full-scale invasion, has partially occupied the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
Those talks, and a perception in European capitals that the Trump administration is favoring Russia over Ukraine, represent an obstacle to a global peace solution involving the U.S., the European Union, Russia and Ukraine.
It’s our duty to not respect it, and I think the key question right now is when the Europeans will say to Trump “OK, you can have a deal with Putin but it’s our duty not to respect it”.
U.S. peace talks in Paris and London: a “very optimistic” tone for the next few months, Vice President Vance told a crowd in Italy
His remarks contrasted with Vice President Vance’s more positive tone in Rome, where he expressed optimism that recent developments could help end the war. “We do feel optimistic,” Vance said, following a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Speaking after a day of negotiations in Paris, Rubio said the administration won’t let talks “drag on for weeks or months” and will pivot to other priorities if efforts stall.
One person was killed in the northeastern city of Sumy when a bakery producing Easter cakes was struck by a drone.
Rubio declined to detail the U.S. peace framework, saying it was too early to finalize decisions like security guarantees. However, he called the Paris talks “very positive” and welcomed further European participation. Next week, there will be a meeting in London.
