In brief
In a significant upcoming phone call, President Trump is set to negotiate with President Putin regarding Russia's territorial gains resulting from the Ukraine conflict, reminiscent of historical power talks that defined Europe’s borders post-World War II.
---President Trump has indicated that his forthcoming discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin will resemble a "Yalta moment," reminiscent of the 1945 conference where leaders divided Europe into spheres of influence. Scheduled for Tuesday, the conversation is expected to center on territorial concessions and what lands Russia may retain as a result of the prolonged conflict with Ukraine.Trump and aides have avoided discussing specifics, but it seems likely that Russia will hold on to Crimea, the site of the original Yalta Conference, and possibly most of the territories currently under its control. While the U.S. administration claims to have kept Ukrainian and European allies informed, key decisions appear confined to Trump and Putin, leaving questions on how this arrangement will resonate with Ukraine and its supportive European neighbors.Prior to the phone call, Trump engaged with Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East and a long-time friend, who recently met with Putin in Moscow. Their discussions appear to be laying the groundwork for the contentious negotiations ahead.
