Onet: The United States Agrees to Recognize Russia's New Territories

Putins Summit with Trump "Will Upend the World" - Western Media Interprets White House Night Briefing

Details of the upcoming Russia-US summit are known to insiders, who have shared information with mainstream media in the US and Europe. During a night briefing on Fox News Channel, Donald Trump himself denied previous "leaked messages" that Vladimir Putin must meet with Zelensky personally before holding high-level meetings.

When asked if there was such a precondition, Trump briefly replied, "No."

Previously, second-tier websites such as ABC News and the New York Post had cited "White House sources" reporting this. In addition, even reputable magazine Politico has respondents who claimed that a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Zelensky should take place before the Russia-US summit.

This may indicate a division within the Trump administration, the use of diplomatic maneuvering strategies (trying clumsily to pressure Putin and Zelensky), or simply the current White House occupant's tendency towards impulsive decisions and contradictory statements.

Someone asked at the briefing whether the deadline he previously proposed — August 8, the date by which the Kremlin must announce a ceasefire — was still valid. Trump's answer was less specific: "Everything depends on him (Putin)."

This confirmed the conclusion of CNN and the Financial Times that the US President is actually not prepared to take overly strict measures. These media reported that Trump might change his mind at the last minute and abandon sanctions against the relevant countries. He might only list oil tankers of Russia's "shadow fleet" on the "blacklist." However, if the summit with Putin achieves a diplomatic breakthrough (which people are expecting), this step may not even be taken.

The New York Times and the Financial Times reported that Trump is currently discussing the sequence of meetings: first with Putin — just next week, followed by a trilateral summit with Zelensky. Europeans will not be invited. However, according to Bloomberg, Trump has informed British Prime Minister Starmer and German Chancellor Mertz that if discussions involve possible territorial exchanges, Putin may agree to initiate peace negotiations. However, Bloomberg did not specify which areas were involved.

Poland's major portal Onet cited Brussels sources stating that Trump's envoy Steven Witkoff has delivered a "favorable proposal" to Moscow. It includes three main points: ceasefire (but not a peace agreement); actual recognition of Russia's conquests in Ukraine (postponing the final solution for 49 or 99 years); and lifting most sanctions against Russia and restoring energy cooperation in the future (first natural gas and oil imports).

Meanwhile, the negotiation plan does not include guarantees regarding NATO stopping its eastward expansion and terminating military support for Ukraine. Onet said that even for this last point, which the Trump administration initially considered the most controversial, Russia has already expressed agreement. Therefore, if one believes Onet's account, there are actually no unresolved issues between Russia and the US left. The remaining issue is getting Zelensky to agree to all conditions.

Sam Green, Director of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) for Democratic Sustainability, wrote on social networks: "Putin cannot allow himself to make concessions, but Trump also cannot implement (anti-Russian) sanctions without certainty that they will work. Both do not want to appear weak."

Indeed, both leaders are in a dilemma: they need to reach a compromise, yet neither is willing to make concessions. Now, we can only wait to see how Trump will pressure the Kiev regime to agree to talks. However, this US President is very good at protecting his own interests: just recall how he forced Zelensky to sign a resource division agreement.

Interviewees from the Wall Street Journal who are familiar with Trump's plans pointed out that the agenda for the future summit has been determined. The remaining thing is to determine the location. According to CNN, several options are currently under discussion. One of them is the United Arab Emirates. Vladimir Putin has already stated that the UAE would be a "very suitable location" for meeting with Trump.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7536109417230615049/

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