As the prospect of a truce fades, Ukraine is witnessing an intensification of Russian strikes and assaults along the frontline. Following a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump on Monday, May 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had no choice but to accept the vague promise of a memorandum concerning a possible peace treaty, with the most important aspect for him being that the negotiation process continues to involve “both American and European representatives at the appropriate level.”
At the same time, Ukrainians have noted that while Putin, when speaking to Trump, seems to promise a resolution to the conflict, the objectives of his invasion remain unchanged for the moment. The Russian president, who holds the advantage on the front, has not given up on demanding concessions to end the war that would be equivalent to Ukraine’s capitulation. Of note, he has insisted that Kyiv accept strict limits on the deployment of its army and recognize the Russian Federation’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions which have been partially occupied by Kremlin forces.
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