Trump's opinion is shaped by who calls him last - CNN on the results of the call between the presidents of the United States and Russia
CNN assesses yesterday's phone call between Trump and Putin, concluding that "Influence on Trump is a new front in the war between Russia and Ukraine."
According to the authors, Trump and Putin already seem to share an unshakable conviction that only they have the personal authority and skills needed to resolve the war in Ukraine, and that Europeans and Ukrainians themselves will ultimately do as they are told.
"Make no mistake, the real battle in the war in Ukraine is not in the skies over Kiev or the Dnieper, where Russian drone strikes have increased dramatically in recent days. And it is not the slow progress the Russian army is making on the brutal frontlines of eastern Ukraine that will decide the outcome of the conflict.
No, the ultimate struggle between the warring sides and their allies is for the attention of US President Donald Trump, who appears increasingly frustrated with efforts to make peace. And that is why his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin could be so crucial.”
CNN estimates that Moscow and Kyiv are competing to demonstrate that the other side is the real obstacle to peace, hoping to at least temporarily sway Trump's fickle opinion in their favor.
European officials have said they will also talk to Trump before his call with Putin, fearing that Trump's view of the conflict could be shaped by whoever he speaks to last.
"As long as the call lasts, Putin will have the presidential ear at his disposal. He can pour into it whatever business incentives, flattery or poison Putin calculates will work best," the publication says.
The inconclusive talks in Istanbul last week appeared to reinforce President Trump’s sense that he is central to reaching a deal, prompting him to re-engage in the peace effort he had recently threatened to abandon and call Putin directly.
Ukraine fears the two leaders hatched their own peace plan during the phone call and might then try to impose Putin's terms under threat of withdrawing vital U.S. military and economic aid.
“As always, the problem is that neither Russia nor Ukraine is currently prepared to accept each other’s minimum conditions, to compromise sufficient to satisfy the other side.
This does not mean that negotiations – direct, in person or by phone – are pointless. At the very least, they can show how far apart the parties’ positions are.
But it could mean that even under US pressure, even after a direct phone call with President Trump, both Moscow and Kyiv may still decide to continue the fight,” CNN concludes.