Putin, Trump and the “lasting peace”: how the Kremlin is trying to dictate terms
21 January 14:55
Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin began his engagement with the new US administration in a rather symbolic way: with a special meeting of the Russian Security Council, where he announced his readiness to negotiate a “lasting peace” with Donald Trump. However, these statements were accompanied by harsh signals that Ukrainian journalist and political commentator Vitaliy Portnikov calls a real ultimatum to the new American president. What Putin really wanted to say,
In his inaugural speech, Donald Trump did not mention Russia or the war in Ukraine. Although the day before, at a “victory rally,” he promised to stop the Russian-Ukrainian war.
“This time, he [Trump] did not say when and how exactly this would happen,” Portnikov notes.
At the same time, the Kremlin wasted no time. “In order to congratulate Trump on taking office and declare his readiness to negotiate a ‘comprehensive peace,’ Putin convened a special meeting with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council,” Portnikov notes.
According to the published part of the meeting, Putin congratulated Trump on his inauguration and expressed readiness to conduct an “equal and mutually respectful dialogue” with the administration of the new US President Donald Trump.
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“We see statements by the newly elected US president and members of his team about the desire to resume direct contacts with Russia, which were interrupted through no fault of our own by the outgoing administration. We also hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent World War III. Of course, we welcome this sentiment and congratulate the US president-elect on taking office,” Putin said.
The Russian dictator also said that he was supposedly ready to discuss a peaceful settlement of the war.
“As for the settlement of the situation itself, I want to emphasize again: its goal should not be a short truce, not some kind of respite for regrouping and rearmament in order to further prolong the conflict, but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all nations living in this region,” said war criminal Putin.
“Long-term peace” according to Putin
Putin’s rhetoric was predictable: Russia is not seeking a ceasefire, but a “lasting peace.”
“To leave no one in doubt as to what kind of peace this is, Putin continued: ‘On the basis of respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all nations living in this region,'” Portnikov emphasizes.
The journalist explains that such rhetoric is not new and refers to Putin’s speech on the night of February 23-24, 2022, when the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Then, as now, the Russian president was not talking about the Ukrainian people, but about the mythical “peoples of Ukraine,” who, in his words, have the right to “self-determination.”
“Putin did not want to admit that the Russian occupation divides the territories of the historical residence of the Ukrainian people. Instead, he invented the “people of the DPR” or “people of the Kherson region” to justify his annexation decisions,” Portnikov said.
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The first ultimatum to Trump
Vitaliy Portnikov also analyzes Donald Trump’s approach to conflict resolution. The American president and his team, according to the journalist, follow the “logic of common sense”: if both sides cannot achieve their goals (Russia’s goal is the destruction of Ukraine, and Ukraine’s goal is the restoration of territorial integrity), they should stop. Trump’s task is to create conditions for ending the war and preventing its resumption in the future.
However, the Kremlin is not interested in classic compromises.
“Putin wants peace on his own terms, the same ones that were voiced back in 2022, as if three years of war, the failure of the blitzkrieg and the military stalemate had never existed,” Portnikov writes.
According to the journalist, in the very first minutes of Donald Trump’s presidency, Putin gave him an ultimatum.
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“Did the new American president notice this amidst the celebrations and confusion of the first days? I don’t know, but it seems that’s exactly what happened,” Vitaly Portnikov said.
“Trump is a player of a different level”
Taras Zagorodniy, managing partner of the National Anti-Crisis Group, in an exclusive commentary for
“I think that Putin realizes that a tougher leader has come, one with more resources. Trump is making it clear to everyone: you have to play by his terms. What happens if I start behaving as you want? The world without rules now looks completely different. In Beijing and Moscow, I think the right people have already felt the tension,” Zagorodny emphasized.
The expert notes that the main problem for Putin is his inability to abandon the demands he has publicly voiced.
“He cannot roll back his demands. Trump cannot give anything of what Putin wants. For example, he cannot give away Zaporizhzhia or Kherson, he cannot approve a ban on NATO expansion or the dismantling of military infrastructure in Eastern Europe. This is simply impossible,” Zahorodnyi said.
According to the expert, this situation leaves Putin with only one option – to continue the policy of pressure, but now the Kremlin is dealing with a leader who is capable of responding with tough measures.
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A dangerous scenario for the Russian elite
Taras Zagorodniy suggests that Trump’s strategy could change not only global politics but also the internal situation in Russia.
“I think Putin’s face is quite sour right now because he realizes that he will be hurt. Perhaps Trump will even go further and raise the issue with the Russian elites about the need to remove Putin. Then they will start looking for ways to get rid of this “psycho” and negotiate with the next leader,” said Taras Zagorodny.
Thus, the world is on the verge of new geopolitical challenges, the outcome of which will depend on the ability of leaders to adapt to the new reality.
The confrontation between Putin and Trump is a confrontation between politicians of different levels. The new US leader is forcing the Kremlin to play by new rules, which threatens not only Putin’s ambitions but also the stability of his power.
At the same time, Putin’s statements about a “lasting peace” are another attempt to impose his vision of conflict resolution on the world, which in fact involves legitimizing Russia’s conquests.
For Donald Trump, this will be his first serious test in foreign policy, and the future of not only Ukraine but also global security will depend on it.
