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President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say they’re making progress on a peace deal to finish the warfare 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. Developing, we’ll communicate with former Pentagon official Evelyn Farkas. First, let’s get the info.
MARTIN: NPR White Home correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben is right here to offer us the newest 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: Nicely, 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 stated they agreed on most of it. However after they talked to reporters after their assembly, a peace deal actually did not appear imminent. Each males got here out saying, primarily, we’re optimistic and we’ll hold speaking, however that is roughly the place they gave the impression to be earlier than the assembly. To place it one other manner, earlier than the assembly, Zelenskyy had stated they had been at 90% settlement. And after the assembly, he stated they had been at 90% settlement.
MARTIN: And what about President Trump? What did he say?
KURTZLEBEN: Nicely, 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 might finally be on board with all of this. At one level, Trump stated that, quote, “Russia needs 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 combating.
Now, all of that is one other shift in Trump’s cold and hot emotions in direction of Putin. Trump has gone from saying earlier this yr, he might simply persuade Putin to finish the warfare to being fairly pissed off with him, and now Trump appears to really feel extra warmly once more. However there was another factor that basically stood out to me. A reporter requested Trump how lengthy it could be earlier than the entire last disagreements are ironed out. And Trump stated this.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So if it went rather well, you realize, perhaps a couple 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 might sign that there is nonetheless far to go right here.
MARTIN: So inform us extra about that. What are the hang-ups?
KURTZLEBEN: Nicely, one query is the best way to take care of the Donbas area in jap Ukraine, which Russia needs to regulate. Zelenskyy needs it to be a demilitarized zone, and he says that Ukraine will withdraw troops if Russia does. Trump stated that on Donbas, he and Zelenskyy don’t agree, however they’re getting nearer. On that word, Ukraine additionally needs safety ensures.
This morning, Zelenskyy instructed Ukrainian press that he requested Trump for a 30- to 50-year assure. Zelenskyy needs 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 stated 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: Nicely, Trump stated he would discuss to Putin after this assembly, however we have not heard extra from the White Home about any kind of dialog. Past that, he stated he and Zelenskyy can be speaking extra. Zelenskyy stated Trump will host a Ukrainian delegation and European leaders in January. However the large query, after all, 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 keen to withdraw from Donbas or settle for safety ensures.
MARTIN: That’s NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben. Danielle, thanks.
KURTZLEBEN: Thanks.
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