“It’s up to Russia now”, President Trump told reporters at the White House this evening, as he insisted it “makes sense” for Moscow to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, while refusing to be drawn on the chances of achieving any breakthrough with Vladimir Putin.
How is the drone attack on Moscow - where people were killed, injured and a civilian apartment block was hit - any different from terrorism? And terrorising a nuclear-armed nation at that?
If that's a card that the Ukrainian leadership holds, I would suggest it is not one we should be associating ourselves with.
Playing devil's advocate: from the Russian perspective, why would they agree to a temporary pause such that the Ukrainians can be re-armed? Surely peace talks need to be about a lasting peace?
The proposal is for a temporary 30-day ceasefire which can be extended by mutual agreement and, once fighting is paused, negotiations will begin immediately on the terms of a permanent peace.
Quite agree that peace talks need to be about a lasting peace, but wondering what you are suggesting would be a better alternative to this format?
How is the drone attack on Moscow - where people were killed, injured and a civilian apartment block was hit - any different from terrorism? And terrorising a nuclear-armed nation at that?
If that's a card that the Ukrainian leadership holds, I would suggest it is not one we should be associating ourselves with.
Playing devil's advocate: from the Russian perspective, why would they agree to a temporary pause such that the Ukrainians can be re-armed? Surely peace talks need to be about a lasting peace?
The proposal is for a temporary 30-day ceasefire which can be extended by mutual agreement and, once fighting is paused, negotiations will begin immediately on the terms of a permanent peace.
Quite agree that peace talks need to be about a lasting peace, but wondering what you are suggesting would be a better alternative to this format?