The US can compel Putin to sit down with Zelensky and accept that Ukraine is a free and sovereign nation
Lord Ashcroft
May 17, 2025
Tensions ran high this week as pressure mounted on Vladimir Putin to attend direct talks with Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul. On 10th May, four European leaders travelled to Kyiv in a clear show of solidarity, urging the Kremlin to follow through on its own initiative for face-to-face talks with Ukraine’s President. Donald Trump raised the stakes further – suggesting he might come to Turkey himself, should the meeting materialise.
The European Union reinforced its position with a 17th round of sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet – oil tankers operating under foreign flags to ship sanctioned crude, sustaining Moscow’s war chest.
For the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, Putin appeared cornered. Journalists flocked to Istanbul, hopeful they might witness an historic day. But the disappointment followed swiftly.
In classic fashion, Putin sent a low-level delegation instead of showing up. This was no coincidence. It was a calculated move to downgrade Zelenskyy while elevating the Russian President as Trump’s equal in direct talks. The Americans took the bait. Both administrations are now reportedly arranging a Trump-Putin meeting “to stop the killings on the frontline”.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators did meet in Istanbul. Ukraine reiterated its demand for a 30-day ceasefire – something it had already accepted weeks ago under US pressure. Russia in turn has unleashed fire on Ukraine turning April into the deadliest month in terms of civilian casualties since September last year. Ukraine also insisted on return of Ukrainian children and a full exchange of prisoners of war.
Russia predictably stuck to maximalist positions: demanding control of five Ukrainian territories, including areas it doesn’t even hold, and the full disarmament of Ukraine. The only agreement was on the exchange of prisoners.
Crucially, Ukraine continues to insists on direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. And rightly so. These talks are not merely about military or political outcomes – they are about Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Russia’s war has never been about the protection of Russian speakers or the supposed encroachment of Nato. The real threat to Putin has always been Ukraine’s independence: a free, democratic Slavic nation on Russia’s doorstep choosing its own path. That, to the Kremlin, is a virus capable of spreading across its borders.
That is precisely why Putin refuses to acknowledge Ukraine’s agency, preferring instead to negotiate with Trump directly. He believes he can extract more concessions from Washington than from Kyiv.
If this bilateral Trump-Putin meeting goes ahead, it will shape not just the outcome of current talks, but Ukraine’s future. President Trump must demand that Putin meets Zelenskyy face to face. Ending this war at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield, is a noble goal. But any agreement must begin with a basic truth: Ukraine is a sovereign, independent European state with full Western backing. It will never return to Moscow’s sphere of influence.
If that message isn’t delivered – and accepted by the Kremlin – any ceasefire will be temporary, and the war will inevitably continue. Only a settlement that secures Ukraine’s sovereignty can bring lasting peace.
Trump holds real leverage. Congress is currently considering the Sanctioning Russia Act, introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham with broad bipartisan support. The bill mandates severe penalties if Russia refuses to negotiate in good faith, including secondary sanctions and tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas. This would strike at the heart of Russia’s economic partnerships.
Donald Trump has all the cards: over Russia, and over the nations that could pressure it into a real peace. He must play them wisely. The future of Ukraine – and global security – depends on it.
Lord Ashcroft is a businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. His research is at LordAshcroftPolls.com. X/Facebook @LordAshcroft
Comment from:
TC George
I am a pro-Ukraine American. Also pro-Trump. Although Trump’s approach to Zelensky and Putin have seemed odd, I have never had any worries that Ukraine will be sold out. First, there is wide bi-partisan support in Congress for Ukraine, and many of Trump’s closest allies are super-hawks, e.g. Lindsey Graham. Second, Zelensky can easily reject any terms he feels are unfair. Trump will not be able to cut off aid even if he wanted. Third, Trump has succeeded in making the Europeans put some money and muscle behind all their strong words. There is no way Trump will want to be seen as duped by Putin or as the man who lost Ukraine.
Trevor Smallwood
Reply to TC George –
I fear that is the triumph of hope over experience
Ruth Nares
Agreed Lord Ashcroft, fully. But whether we can rely on President Trump to follow through is surely another question. I can only pray to God that the rest of the world – and America – will lean on him sufficiently to do so.
Andrew Darbyshire
Sadly Trump holds no leverage whatsoever. He is a Russian asset.
Brian Roe
Lord Ashcroft is quite right, Trump holds all the cards. The question is will he use them or is he still too obsessed with doing deals with Putin in American interests to bother with Ukraine’s.
Sunil Abeyratne
The Independent noted what Russia has demanded as conditions for a ceasefire.
Here it is:
According to a Ukrainian official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity to reveal details of the talks, the Russian delegation proposed the following terms for a peace deal.
(1)
The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, only after which there can be a ceasefire. The regions are largely or partially controlled by Russian forces, but Ukrainian troops are still fighting to hold on to the remaining parts of the regions. There was no such demand in the draft deal prepared by the United States.
(2)
International recognition that five parts of Ukraine – the Crimea peninsula annexed in 2014, as well as the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions – are Russian. The U.S. draft had proposed only US de jure recognition for Crimea, and US de facto recognition for Russian-controlled parts of the other regions.
(3)
Ukraine becomes a neutral state, has no weapons of mass destruction, and Kyiv’s allies will not station any of their troops on Ukrainian soil. This demand was absent from the US proposal.
(4)
All sides in the conflict renounce their claims to receive compensation for war damages. The US proposal had stipulated that Ukraine receives compensation.
Simon Reeve
Reply to Sunil Abeyratne
This is what happens when you show weakness to a deluded tyrant– yet another list of more demands… want to guess what Trump’s reward will be if he backs down again on these demands? Yup, you guessed it– yet another list of more demands 🙄
The two most populous nations in the world are India and China.
Both are fascist dictatorships that are propping up the regime of a child-murdering nazi.
These two shitholes have to be stopped; by economic power.