From the Hill:
"Russia-Ukraine talks reach pivotal moment for Trump
“If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say you’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people and we’re going to just take a pass,” Trump said.
It’s not clear exactly what that would mean, though it would seem to risk U.S. support for Ukraine...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for recognition of Russian sovereignty over five territories in Ukraine that his country only partially controls and repeated that it wants to address the “root causes” of the war — a catchall term experts say boils down to Putin’s call for Ukraine’s demilitarization and subjugation to Russia’s sphere of influence.
Ukraine has rejected those terms while signaling a willingness to freeze the line of combat. Rubio conceded Ukraine does need assurances that it could defend itself going forward if Russia renewed its aggression after a peace deal was signed.
“Ukraine — in order for there to be peace, we recognize that Ukraine has to feel like it has the ability to defend itself from a future attack from anyone. … But we’re not working yet on that level of specifics,” Rubio said.
Ukraine also knows Trump could drop U.S. support at anytime.
Trump earlier this year shut off U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing for nearly two weeks in the wake of an explosive Oval Office spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was arguing Putin was a deceptive negotiating partner.
Since then, Ukraine has increasingly sought to be cooperative and productive with the Trump administration.
After a meeting with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia at the end of March, Kyiv accepted without conditions the U.S. plan for a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea. Moscow has so far refused those terms and in recent days carried out devastating attacks against civilians in the Ukrainian cities of Kryvyi Rih and Sumy. Those attacks coincided with the Easter holidays.
Trump, when asked if Russia is stalling, said he would know soon.
“I hope not. We’re going to let you know about that soon if he is. But I hope not.”
The administration’s rhetoric appears to put equal blame on Ukraine and Russia – even as Moscow has rejected Trump’s earlier proposal for a temporary ceasefire.
“Rubio’s remarks this morning threw me, I will admit, because he seemed to be equidistant in blaming both Russia and Ukraine for the stalled progress,” said Daniel Fried, Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow with the Atlantic Council and a veteran American diplomat to Europe. “Whereas, in fact, Russia is responsible for the lack of progress. Russia alone.”
Trump has elevated Putin in the negotiations, a sharp turn from former President Biden’s effort to isolate the alleged war criminal. Trump has largely complimented the authoritarian Russian leader and dispatched his most trusted confidant, Steve Witkoff, to conduct face-to-face discussions in Moscow.
Ukraine’s supporters, deeply skeptical of Putin’s commitment to peace, say now is the time for Trump to pressure Russia, given its own fears about the global economy.
“The price of oil is low because of fears of a recession; Russia’s economic position is even more vulnerable. Take advantage, man! Gift from the gods,” Fried exclaimed. “They’re hurting. Therefore, let them know we know, and start rolling out the options or leaking the options to really hold them over the fire on energy.”...
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally and vocal Ukraine supporter, has legislation waiting in the wings to codify U.S. sanctions on Russia.
“Putin and peace apparently do not fit in the same sentence,” Graham posted on X, responding to Russia’s Easter Sunday attack on Sumy...
Still, though Ukraine enjoys bipartisan majority in Congress in its fight with Russia, there’s an understanding that Trump is likely to never ask for another assistance package to aid Ukraine. Between 2022 and 2024, Congress appropriated $174.19 billion to Ukraine through five different legislative vehicles...
Fried said Trump has an enormous opportunity to claim victory in the war but will need to put more pressure on Putin to get there.
“If his deal involves getting a ceasefire and security for Ukraine and getting the Europeans to pony up the bulk of the resources for security, he can claim a double victory,” Fried said.
“But to do that, he’s got to stare down Putin instead of constantly buttering him up or having Witkoff go there with bouquets.”"
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