Trump and Putin Begin Peace Talks Without Ukraine

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The unexpected announcement of peace talks between the US and Russia has created a diplomatic storm, causing significant unrest among international leaders and allies.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded with a flurry of actions, including opposing any negotiations that leave Ukraine out of the process, seeking firm security assurances, and dismissing an agreement about mineral rights with the US. He’s also pushed for the creation of a European military force, sought continued American backing, and insisted on Russia’s withdrawal to pre-2022 positions.

The reaction from European officials has been equally dramatic, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and various German, French, and British leaders expressing strong opposition to the proposed negotiations. In contrast, NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte has taken a more accommodating stance, encouraging European leaders to accept the situation.

"Of course it's a betrayal" says @WorldAffairsPro about Trump's comments on Ukraine not joining NATO, no going back to pre-2014 borders, and peace talks sidelining Ukraine. "I don't think there's any floor to Mr. Trump's subservience to Mr. Putin." pic.twitter.com/SUWiYeFdm3

— Kim Brunhuber (@kimbrunhuber) February 13, 2025

Both presidents have assembled formidable negotiating teams. Trump revealed his lineup through Truth Social, stating: “I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful…”

The absence of Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg from the announcement raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles. The team includes Rubio, who has shifted from pro-Ukraine advocacy to a more negotiation-focused approach; Ratcliffe, a steadfast Trump supporter concerned about nuclear escalation; Waltz, who has previously supported Ukrainian aid; and Witkoff, who recently secured American citizen Mark Fogel’s release from Russia.

Bloomberg reported on Putin’s team selection: “They include Yuri Ushakov, his chief Kremlin foreign-policy adviser who has more than half a century of involvement in diplomacy, and his top spymaster, Sergei Naryshkin, who served with Putin in the Soviet KGB, according to people familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified discussing internal information.

MOMENTS AGO – President Trump hosts American hostage freed from Russian prison. Trump secured the release of Marc Fogel, an American jailed since 2021 on drug charges. My take: good will gesture over possible Ukraine peace talks. Trump – Man of the Century!💪
Prezydent Trump… pic.twitter.com/hI2m84fxjQ

— maxkolonko (@maxkolonko) February 12, 2025

Kirill Dmitriev, a financier educated at Stanford and Harvard with ties to the Russian president’s own family, may play a key role as an unofficial back-channel with Trump’s negotiators, people familiar with the preparations said.”

Putin’s choice of experienced negotiators demonstrates his commitment to achieving favorable outcomes. The inclusion of Dmitriev, with his Western business background and experience with firms like McKinsey and Goldman Sachs, suggests a strategic approach to dealing with Trump’s unconventional leadership style.