Trump, Putin discuss main aspects of Ukraine crisis

Donald Trump engaged in his first discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone on Jan. 28 since becoming president, reportedly touching upon “the main aspects of the crisis in Ukraine,” the Kremlin’s press service reported. “During the conversation, both sides demonstrated a spirit of active interaction to stabilize and develop Russian-American cooperation on a constructive, equal and mutually beneficial foundation,” the release said. In particular, the two leaders discussed the coordination of their forces to defeat the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria, the release said. They also talked about renewing mutually beneficial trade relations between the two countries to stimulate gradual and stable development of bilateral relations.

Trump offered wishes for the Russian people’s development, adding that the U.S. regards Russia and its people with sympathy, the release said. Putin expressed similar sentiments for Americans, adding that he views the U.S. “as the most important partner in the fight against international terrorism.” They didn’t discuss sanctions, Putin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told Interfax that day. The day before, Trump told a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May that it’s too early to discuss canceling sanctions against Russia.

Zenon Zawada: Trump’s strategy on dealing with Russia is already apparent. He will team up with Putin to wage war on the Islamic State, likely this spring or summer, at the latest. During this time, Putin agrees not to stir any trouble in Ukraine and keep bearing the sanctions. After the inevitable victory, Putin will restore his image among the Western public and will earn reluctant acceptance from the globalist community.

At that point (sometime in the fall), Trump will lead a campaign to relax sanctions against Putin as a reward for helping to defeat the Islamic State. Trump and Putin will have support from the EU, particularly from the French, whose foreign policy will inevitably become more Putin-friendly with the election of Francois Fillon or Marine Le Pen as president. The German parliament is almost certain to tip towards the right in fall elections as well. 

The new American leadership is approaching the Ukraine crisis with a way for Putin to save face in order to prevent any more aggressive, destructive moves from his end, possibly also halting the warfare in Donbas. The most realistic outcome at this point involves the West dropping the Crimea question (without granting Russia legal recognition of the peninsula) and freezing the conflict in Donbas. But Trump could end up forcing the Ukrainian leadership to implement the Minsk Accords on conditions adverse to Ukraine.