Ukraine Peace Talks Amidst EU Divisions

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, defying his EU partners and sparking criticism from EU leaders. Orban secured guarantees for Russian oil and gas supplies and agreement to continue the Paks nuclear power station construction. The visit comes ahead of Russia-US talks on ending the Ukraine war and as Orban's Fidesz party faces parliamentary elections in April. Orban has been a close ally of Putin and has undermined EU solidarity against Russia. The meeting was seen as frosty, with some suggesting Putin's words were mistranslated to sound more positive. Orban's visit was billed as part of a strategy to ensure energy supplies for Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia. EU leaders criticized Orban's actions, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stating that Orban was acting without a European mandate.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that a U.S.-backed peace proposal is a starting point for talks to end the war in Ukraine. Putin made the comments during a three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, describing U.S. President Donald Trump's 28-point peace plan as 'a set of issues put forward for discussion.' The proposal has undergone changes since its initial release, with an amended version emerging from talks in Geneva between American and Ukrainian officials. Putin's comments come as analysts believe he is trying to outwait Western countries' commitment to supporting Ukraine's war effort. The Institute for the Study of War has cast doubt on Russian claims of battlefield momentum, stating that a Russian military victory is not inevitable.

The article discusses the potential for an unjust peace in Ukraine and the need for Ukraine and Europe to seize the initiative to control their destiny. A leaked 28-point surrender plan has sparked concerns, but American and European leaders have managed to mitigate its most harmful elements. However, the choices confronting Ukraine and its backers will only get harder. The article warns that Donald Trump's peace plan would be bad for Ukraine, Europe, and America, being a mix of opportunism and strategic myopia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed interest in using former US President Donald Trump's peace plan as a starting point for negotiations to end the nearly four-year war between Ukraine and Russia. Putin warned that if Ukrainian troops do not withdraw from occupied territories, Russia will achieve its goals by force. The situation has sparked debate among experts, with some believing Putin is seeking to trick the US and EU, while others see it as an opportunity for peace. Trump's peace plan was initially criticized for being skewed towards Russian demands, but an amended version was discussed in Geneva between American and Ukrainian officials.

The article discusses the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict and the efforts to achieve a peace agreement. Despite some progress, the main obstacle remains the territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia. The US is advancing a revised peace framework, and Ukraine has accepted the broad contours of the emerging deal, but Russia's demands for Ukrainian land remain a major point of contention. Experts and officials from various countries weigh in on the situation, with some expressing concerns about Ukraine conceding territory to Russia.