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President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say they’re making progress on a peace deal to finish the struggle in Russia after assembly in Mar-a-Lago Sunday.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say they’re making progress towards peace in Ukraine.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
The 2 leaders met on Sunday at Mar-a-Lago, the place the president has been spending the vacations. In the meantime, Russian assaults continued over the weekend, and key points stay unresolved. Arising, we’ll converse with former Pentagon official Evelyn Farkas. First, let’s get the information.
MARTIN: NPR White Home correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben is right here to present us the most recent on the negotiations. Good morning, Danielle.
DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN, BYLINE: Good morning, Michel.
MARTIN: So what was your takeaway from this assembly? Is a peace deal coming?
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, the actual fact that they met appears to be an indication of momentum. Zelenskyy had put ahead this 20-point peace proposal this previous week, and the 2 males met shortly after and mentioned they agreed on most of it. However once they talked to reporters after their assembly, a peace deal actually did not appear imminent. Each males got here out saying, basically, we’re optimistic and we’ll preserve speaking, however that is roughly the place they gave the impression to be earlier than the assembly. To place it one other method, earlier than the assembly, Zelenskyy had mentioned they had been at 90% settlement. And after the assembly, he mentioned they had been at 90% settlement.
MARTIN: And what about President Trump? What did he say?
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, Trump had a prolonged telephone name with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier than his in-person assembly with Zelenskyy and got here away optimistic, and in that optimism, he was attempting to make it sound like Russia may finally be on board with all of this. At one level, Trump mentioned that, quote, “Russia desires to see Ukraine succeed.” However then Russia bombarded Kyiv over the weekend. So there is a large query as to how prepared Russia actually is to cease preventing.
Now, all of that is one other shift in Trump’s cold and warm emotions in direction of Putin. Trump has gone from saying earlier this 12 months, he may simply persuade Putin to finish the struggle to being fairly pissed off with him, and now Trump appears to really feel extra warmly once more. However there was another factor that actually stood out to me. A reporter requested Trump how lengthy it could be earlier than all the remaining disagreements are ironed out. And Trump mentioned this.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So if it went rather well, , possibly a number of weeks, and if it went poorly, longer, and if it went actually poorly, it is not going to occur. That may be a disgrace.
KURTZLEBEN: Now, that is Trump speaking. He loves hyperbole. He loves speaking up his personal talents. The actual fact that he is lukewarm on success may sign that there is nonetheless far to go right here.
MARTIN: So inform us extra about that. What are the hang-ups?
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, one query is learn how to take care of the Donbas area in japanese Ukraine, which Russia desires to regulate. Zelenskyy desires it to be a demilitarized zone, and he says that Ukraine will withdraw troops if Russia does. Trump mentioned that on Donbas, he and Zelenskyy don’t agree, however they’re getting nearer. On that be aware, Ukraine additionally desires safety ensures.
This morning, Zelenskyy informed Ukrainian press that he requested Trump for a 30- to 50-year assure. Zelenskyy desires to know that the U.S. and different allies in Europe will defend Ukraine if Russia assaults once more. A reporter requested Trump how a lot he and Zelenskyy agree on all of that, and Trump mentioned they’re shut however added that there are what he referred to as very powerful points to nonetheless work out. Lastly, there is a nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine that Russia took management of early on this battle. The destiny of that plant has been a giant sticking level, and it was unclear yesterday what progress Trump and Zelenskyy made.
MARTIN: And what comes subsequent?
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, Trump mentioned he would discuss to Putin after this assembly, however we’ve not heard extra from the White Home about any sort of dialog. Past that, he mentioned he and Zelenskyy can be speaking extra. Zelenskyy mentioned Trump will host a Ukrainian delegation and European leaders in January. However the large query, in fact, is, if and when Trump and Zelenskyy can agree, can Putin agree with them? We do not know a lot about that in any respect – for instance, whether or not Russia is prepared to withdraw from Donbas or settle for safety ensures.
MARTIN: That’s NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben. Danielle, thanks.
KURTZLEBEN: Thanks.
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