Efforts by President Trump to end what he called the “death march” in Ukraine have become a central topic in recent talks, as he claims he wants the war to stop quickly.
But while Trump may be pushing for peace, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia seems to have his mind on a much bigger plan that goes far beyond just ending the war.
On Monday, representatives from both Russia and the United States gathered in Saudi Arabia to continue their discussions on some technical parts of a possible partial cease-fire. This cease-fire would focus on stopping attacks on ships in the Black Sea and on energy infrastructure.
While Ukrainian officials say they are open to a full peace deal, Mr. Putin is insisting that certain demands must be addressed before any agreement happens.
From how things appear, the Russian government is working to gain the best results possible from Trump’s push for peace. As talks move slowly, Russia seems to be hoping that better relations with Washington will bring both political and financial advantages, even while it continues launching missile attacks on Ukraine.
A few days ago, during a security meeting in New Delhi, senior Russian foreign-policy experts said the Kremlin was treating the Ukraine conflict and its relations with the US as two separate matters. Putin seems determined to win in Ukraine while also taking advantage of Trump’s interest in peace to gain what it wants from Washington.
Moscow Targets Bigger Benefits from Peace Talks
Vyacheslav Nikonov, who serves as a deputy chairman on Russia’s foreign affairs committee, said that Trump and Putin are now working on their own set of priorities, apart from the Ukraine issue.
According to Mr. Nikonov, “Ukraine is moving on its own course.” He made this comment during an interview at the Raisina Dialogue in India. “The military campaign is still going,” he said. “But Putin sees the connection with the United States as more valuable than just focusing on Ukraine.”
Russia appears to believe that building ties with Trump could help bring in benefits such as access to airplane parts for its Boeing aircraft, as well as a weaker NATO presence in Europe.
What remains uncertain is whether Trump will use this situation to get better terms for Ukraine or if he will get frustrated and stop dealing with Putin altogether.
Aleksandr A. Dynkin, a foreign policy analyst who advises the Russian Foreign Ministry, explained that Trump prefers fast results. “If he feels it is getting too difficult, he may drop the matter entirely,” he said.
Putin seems to understand that keeping Trump interested in the discussion is important, and he appears ready to do what it takes to maintain Trump’s attention.
Personal Touch in Putin’s Engagement with Trump
In a recent meeting in Moscow, Putin gave a framed painting of Trump to White House envoy Steve Witkoff. The artwork was made by a Russian artist, according to Witkoff, who later described the event during an interview released on Saturday.
Witkoff told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that it was “a very thoughtful gesture.” Although Putin has taken part in talks, he has not changed his core demands.
These include making sure Ukraine never joins NATO, reducing NATO’s power in nearby countries, limiting Ukraine’s military ability, and keeping some level of Russian influence inside Ukraine’s politics.
Feodor Voitolovsky, who leads Moscow’s Institute of World Economy and International Relations, said Russia wants to see a full outline of how a broader agreement would look before agreeing to any cease-fire terms.
He also added that Russia might accept the use of United Nations peacekeeping forces in Ukraine as long as NATO soldiers are not involved.
Moscow Pushes for Long-Term Advantage
Voitolovsky believes that the future matters more to Russia than a temporary pause in fighting. “We can come up with a plan that allows both Russia and the United States, and also Russia and NATO, to exist side by side without stepping into each other’s affairs,” he said.
He is part of several advisory groups at the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Security Council. Russia has been trying to appeal to Trump’s style of thinking, especially by stressing business-related matters.
Vitolovsky explained that progress on the Ukraine issue is needed before any deep cooperation between Russia and the United States can happen. He also claimed that Trump, “as someone with business experience,” likely understands that Russian financial assets are currently undervalued.
Dynkin, the foreign policy adviser, mentioned that Moscow may consider removing the United States from its list of countries it sees as unfriendly. That label currently prevents many American companies from doing business in Russia.
Russia Hopes Aviation Talks Open More Doors
There has been growing interest in working out aviation issues, especially because Russian airlines have had trouble finding parts for their American-made planes. According to Dynkin, the United States could allow parts to be exported again and restart direct flights to Moscow.
In return, Russia might let American airlines fly through Siberian airspace, a route it blocked in 2022. Anastasia Likhacheva, who is the dean of international affairs at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, said she doesn’t think Trump will suddenly remove all sanctions.
But she did say that better communication with the US could lead to less pressure when it comes to enforcing sanctions. She believes that if relations improve even slightly, Russian companies could have an easier time doing business internationally.
The message to other countries would be that Russia is no longer considered a high-risk partner. “This kind of clean-up of our image,” she said, “can help us have more opportunities.”
