The world watched as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin engaged in a verbal sparring match over the Ukraine conflict. Trump took to social media to share his thoughts, calling the talks between the US and Russia "good and productive. " He expressed hope that this dialogue could finally bring an end to the bloody war. The meeting between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow seemed to offer a glimmer of optimism, with both sides exchanging information and discussing a potential peace process.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, saw things differently. He criticized Putin's response, claiming that Russia's conditions for a ceasefire were nothing more than a manipulative tactic to prolong the war. Zelensky accused Putin of setting "extremely difficult and unacceptable conditions" right from the start, making it clear that Russia was not genuinely interested in peace. He warned that Putin's strategy involved dragging everyone into endless discussions, wasting precious time while the war continued to claim lives.

Putin, on the other hand, had earlier expressed support for a ceasefire but added that there were "nuances" to consider. This cautious optimism from the US was met with skepticism from Zelensky, who believed that Putin's true intentions were far from peaceful. The Ukrainian leader urged international influencers, particularly the United States, to take strong steps to pressure Russia into a genuine ceasefire.

The situation on the ground in Kursk added another layer of complexity. Putin claimed that Ukrainian troops were isolated and trying to flee, while Ukraine's armed forces denied any encirclement, stating that their troops had successfully regrouped. Trump, in his social media post, urged Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, warning of a potential massacre. Putin responded by promising to treat surrendering Ukrainian soldiers with dignity, in line with international law.

Meanwhile, the G7 members gathered in Quebec to discuss the Ukraine crisis. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly emphasized that all members supported the US-proposed ceasefire, which was backed by Ukraine. The group agreed that the ball was now in Russia's court, awaiting their response to the peace proposal. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed this sentiment, calling for a ceasefire with no conditions.

The White House maintained that the talks between Putin and Witkoff were productive, with Trump putting pressure on Russia to do the right thing. However, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear that foreign policy decisions would not be based on social media statements or news conferences. He stressed that the only way to end the war was through a process of negotiations.

Trump and Putin: A Dance of Words and Weapons

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