Russian diplomatic victory was the key takeaway from the Trump-Putin phone call, as seen in Russian headlines. The media in Moscow view the conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin as a major success in Russia-U.S. diplomatic talks. Izvestia concluded, "**Putin and Trump have agreed to work together for Ukraine conflict resolution." Another newspaper declared, "Putin and Trump’s longest phone call ends in a diplomatic win for Russia." But why are some in Russia claiming victory after this two-hour conversation? Perhaps the reason lies in Moscow's foreign policy approach—by the end of the call, President Putin was not forced to make any concessions to U.S.-Russia relations or Ukraine conflict resolution. The opposite happened—he outright rejected ceasefire negotiations, dismissing President Trump’s proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire rejection of 30 days. Meanwhile, instead of threatening Moscow's geopolitical strategy with U.S. sanctions on Russia, the U.S. administration appeared to take a softer stance, even praising the Russian leader's approach. Speaking to Fox News, President Trump stated, "We had an outstanding conversation." His advisor, Steve Whitcoff statement, further added, "**I commend President Putin for what he did during this call to move his country toward a final Russia’s peace conditions." Russia not only refused the unconditional ceasefire rejection but also presented its terms for peace, reinforcing Putin’s Ukraine stance in the ongoing Russia-U.S. diplomatic talks.
The US administration praised the Russian leader instead of threatening Moscow with tougher sanctions to implement its proposed plan.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict and Western aid to Ukraine have become central issues in diplomatic talks. These conditions include stopping Ukraine intelligence sharing, which is widely seen as a strategy to force Ukraine into surrendering its weapons on a large scale. However, it is highly unlikely that Ukraine will agree to these terms. But can the Trump administration policy be persuaded by Russia to accept such conditions? And if so, can the U.S. force Ukraine to comply with them? The answer to this may depend on whether Putin-Trump diplomacy can convince President Trump that improving Russia-U.S. economic ties would be more beneficial than defending Ukraine. To highlight this point, Moscow trade negotiations are already emphasizing Russia’s economic leverage and financial benefits in discussions with U.S. administration representatives, arguing that both countries could greatly profit from geopolitical trade strategy and joint projects. Recently, Vladimir Putin expressed interest in a potential U.S.-Russia rare minerals deal and an aluminum production partnership between Russia and the U.S., a message that is making its way to Washington.
On Tuesday, speaking to the media, Donald Trump stated, "We would like to trade more with Russia." "They have rare minerals trade and other valuable resources that are crucial for us. They possess Russia’s vast real estate, and they have assets that we can utilize." Moscow is likely hoping—and possibly calculating—that Trump may prioritize gaining access to Russia-U.S. economic ties over securing a Ukraine ceasefire deal. This aligns with Moscow's negotiation tactics, as the Kremlin aims to leverage its resources for strategic gains. This perspective was also highlighted by Izvestia, a newspaper known for its pro-Kremlin stance. Izvestia newspaper wrote, "Moscow's logic is to make economic ties with the U.S. so profitable that severing them would be too costly for America." This reflects Putin’s economic leverage in shaping U.S.-Russia diplomatic talks. It is worth noting that a week ago when Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire, the U.S. administration declared that "the ball is now in Russia's court." However, now that Putin has rejected the deal and laid out his conditions, Russia has thrown the ball back to the U.S. Negotiations between Russia and the U.S. will continue—both on bilateral trade relations and the Ukraine conflict. The outcome of these talks will ultimately determine Trump’s Russia policy and showcase Russia’s bargaining power in balancing geopolitical trade strategy with military considerations. As discussions unfold, Russia is pushing for strategic trade agreements that would integrate its economy more deeply with the West, making any future conflicts or sanctions costly for the U.S. This calculated approach suggests that economic impact on diplomacy may outweigh traditional ceasefire negotiations. If Trump prioritizes economic cooperation over supporting Ukraine, it could mark a shift in U.S. foreign policy and redefine global alliances.
The recent two-hour Trump-Putin phone call is being hailed in Moscow as a diplomatic win, with Russia successfully steering the conversation toward economic diplomacy rather than geopolitical strategy. While the U.S. had hoped for progress on ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine, Putin instead emphasized the potential for trade leverage, particularly in rare minerals trade and Russia’s real estate assets, making it costly for America to sever U.S.-Russia economic ties. By rejecting an unconditional ceasefire and shifting the focus to bilateral trade agreements, Moscow has effectively placed the ball back in Washington's court. Now, Trump faces a crucial decision—whether to prioritize strategic alliances with Ukraine and its Western partners or to embrace economic cooperation with Russia. As global power dynamics continue to shift, the outcome of these diplomatic talks could redefine the future of Washington’s policy dilemma and the balance of power on the world stage.