Leland Vittert on Ukraine Peace Talks: Putin's Actions Show Peace is Far Away

Ukraine Peace Deal Prospects

• 💡 Ambassador at large Steve Witkoff is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
• 🎯 President Trump expressed cautious optimism, stating they are "getting very close to a deal," but acknowledged uncertainty.
• 📌 The current situation is likened to a difficult breakup, where the parties are "a little past pleasantries, but a long way from peace."

Putin's Stance and NATO Provocations

• ⚠️ Peace requires genuine desire from both sides, agreement, and a stronger power to enforce it, all of which are currently in question.
• 🇷🇺 Putin's stated goal remains the takeover of all of Ukraine, and his actions, including bombing civilian targets and deep incursions into NATO territory, demonstrate this.
• ⚡ Russian drones recently made their deepest incursion into NATO territory, over a thousand miles from Moscow, indicating Putin is testing NATO's resolve.

Historical Precedents and Future Challenges

• 🚫 The proposed Russian deal is described as a "non-starter" for Ukraine, essentially demanding a surrender, and the new deal is likely unacceptable to Putin.
• 📜 A significant challenge is how to get Vladimir Putin to follow the rules, given his history of violating dozens of ceasefires since 1999.
• ✅ While reaching and beginning to rebuild Ukraine is vitally important, the most crucial aspect is a deal that both sides agree to and will adhere to.