Trump Disappointed After Believing Progress in Russia-Ukraine Discussions, Only to Find Putin Hesitant

In a warning to the European Union, Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, has cautioned against conceding land to Russia as part of a peace deal, stating it as a trap set by Putin. This comes as Russia launched one of its biggest aerial assaults this year, focusing on western Ukraine.

Kallas asserted that the recent discussions about handing Putin concessions are exactly the trap that Russia wants the EU to fall into. She claimed that granting Putin concessions would amount to rewarding the aggressor.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Russians are trying to avoid a meeting with Putin. This sentiment was echoed by Kallas, who criticized Putin for continuing to kill people despite repeated calls for the killing to stop.

On the other hand, Donald Trump, the Republican president, announced he had begun making arrangements for a direct talk between Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, Russia's top diplomat stated that Putin won't meet with Zelenskyy until the Ukrainians agree to some of Moscow's demands, causing Trump's optimism about a diplomatic breakthrough to diminish.

In an effort to resolve the conflict, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, Finland, the European Commission, and several other nations have agreed to participate in negotiations. They emphasized the inclusion of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and called for robust security guarantees for Ukraine.

The Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte explained that the security guarantees under discussion would have two layers: one focusing on making the Ukrainian armed forces strong after a peace deal or long-term ceasefire, and the other involving security commitments from Europe and the United States.

Moreover, Ukraine wants Western security guarantees to deter any postwar Russian attack, and U.S. and European officials are working on detailed proposals for this. Trump also raised the possibility of imposing new sanctions or tariffs on Russia.

Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, stated that Putin hasn't moderated his position in any significant way. This was further supported by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who stated that Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy to discuss peace terms, but only after key issues are worked out by senior officials.

Despite these ongoing tensions, Putin made a visit to Sarov, a closed city that has served as a base for Russia's nuclear weapons program since the late 1940s. It remains uncertain when, or if, a summit between Putin and Zelenskyy will take place.

Associated Press writer Emma Burrows contributed to this report.