Moscow won’t yield till Washington applies real pressure * Negotiating for this leverage alone can take up to 6 months * Russia may want Ukraine to ‘cap’ its military size. Upshot: War continues as is
The long-awaited conversation between Trump and Putin on March 18 confirmed what was already clear — Russia is not prepared to end its war. For Kremlin, talk of a ceasefire is merely a tactic to prolong aggression. Following their discussion, Putin refused to agree to a proposed 30-day truce, instead vaguely suggesting a mutual halt to strikes on energy infra. Just hours later, he brazenly violated his own words, launching another wave of Shahed drone attacks on central Kyiv.