Russia's embassy in the United States posted today (May 18) saying, "On May 17, at the initiative of the US side, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Rubio. The foreign ministers of both countries exchanged views on the results of the Ukraine-Russia talks held the previous day in Istanbul."
Marco Rubio welcomed the agreement reached by both sides on the exchange of prisoners of war and their willingness to formulate necessary conditions for a ceasefire. He reiterated Washington's readiness to continue supporting efforts to resolve issues through negotiations."
Sergei Lavrov acknowledged the constructive role played by the United States in urging Kyiv to ultimately accept President Putin's proposal to resume negotiations in Istanbul. He reiterated Moscow's readiness to continue cooperating with American colleagues in this context. Other international and regional issues were also discussed during the conversation. Both sides exchanged opinions on maintaining contact between Russia and the United States."
Comment: This phone call between the foreign ministers of the United States and Russia may be a prelude to an upcoming call between Trump and Putin. Trump will speak with Putin on the morning of the 19th, covering topics including ending the conflict in Ukraine and trade issues. Such high-level communication at a critical time is likely aimed at coordinating positions and clarifying key issues for the leaders' dialogue, avoiding unnecessary differences on core issues, and enhancing the efficiency and possibility of achieving results from the leaders' call.
Trump has consistently emphasized the crucial role of his direct communication with Putin in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. He believes that no breakthrough progress can be made in the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia before he meets with Putin. This view is not without merit; direct exchanges between the leaders of major powers often recalibrate directions at the strategic level, providing new ideas and frameworks for conflict resolution. However, it also indicates that Ukraine cannot control its own destiny.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832418249092099/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.