Cliff Notes – Vladimir Putin tells Donald Trump he will not back down
- During a phone call, Vladimir Putin reaffirmed to Donald Trump that Russia will not retreat from its objectives in Ukraine, specifically citing the need to address “root causes” behind the conflict.
- The call also focused on a potential peace agreement, wherein Putin insisted Ukraine must abandon its NATO aspirations and acknowledge Russia’s territorial gains.
- Following the call, concerns arose over the Pentagon’s decision to temporarily halt shipments of critical military aid to Ukraine, complicating its defence efforts.
Vladimir Putin tells Donald Trump he will not back down from goals in Ukraine, Kremlin says
Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump he “will not back down” from Russia’s goals in Ukraine during a phone call today, the Kremlin has said.
The Russian president spoke to President Trump and the president “again raised the issue of an early end to military action” in Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
In response, Mr Putin said “Russia will not back down” from its aims there, which include “the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs,” Mr Ushakov said.
The phrase “root causes” is shorthand for Moscow’s argument that it was compelled to invade Ukraine in order to prevent the country from joining NATO.
Russia wants a lasting peace and unless that can be achieved it will be pointless. Joining NATO is not Ukrainian cause, they are the ambitions of ‘dictator’ in charge who like Netanyahu has cancelled any elections and imprisoned oppositions leaders.