NO Common Ground in U.S. Ukraine Peace Talks w/Col Jacques Baud

The presentation discusses a high-level diplomatic meeting in Saudi Arabia involving delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Saudi officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while U.S. Secretary Rubio is engaging with Saudi representatives. A joint meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine is also planned in Jeddah, though there are uncertainties about its purpose and expected outcomes.

Key points include:

US-Ukraine Negotiation Standoff: The U.S. reportedly wants Ukraine to consider negotiations with Russia, but Ukraine is reluctant, fearing it has no leverage and that any agreement would be on Russia's terms. Ukraine also has backing from the European Union in refusing talks.

Diverging Interests: The Trump administration (post-January transition) sees the conflict as a liability inherited from Biden and wants to disengage. European leaders, however, have been deeply involved in supporting Ukraine from the start and find it difficult to reverse their position.

Russia’s Perspective: Russia justifies its invasion as a protective measure for Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine, framing it as a continuation of its past interventions, such as in Georgia in 2008. It also claims NATO expansion and Ukraine’s 2021 decree to reclaim Crimea triggered the war.

Western Narrative vs. Russian Narrative: The West portrays Russia’s actions as an expansionist attempt to restore Soviet-era influence, while Russia insists it is addressing the "root causes" of the conflict—mainly what it sees as aggression against Russian-speaking populations.

Potential Outcomes: The discussion highlights a gap between expectations—Ukraine and the EU seeking a return to pre-2014 borders, while Russia insists on recognizing current territorial realities. The lack of alignment on peace terms makes meaningful negotiations difficult.

The conversation emphasizes the challenges of diplomatic resolution, given the entrenched positions and geopolitical stakes for all parties involved.

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