Russian president Vladimir Putin. Photo: AP
Until now, the brutal conflict in Ukraine has been fought chiefly with missiles, bombs and soldiers, leading to deadly consequences. But as the war enters its fourth year since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the action could shift from the battlefield to the negotiating table. US president-elect Donald Trump says he wants to do a deal – and soon. Russian president Vladimir Putin’s own cynical strategy is to use negotiations to buy more time for his aggression.
Trump must avoid this trap. In his news conference on Tuesday, Trump doubled down on his promise to resolve the war quickly after taking office, underscoring his belief in a deal with Putin while expressing scepticism about Ukraine’s ambitions to join Nato.
