Trump, Putin to discuss Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday

New Delhi Mar 17: US President Donald Trump has said that his planned talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine will involve discussions about “land” and “power plants,” according to reports from the BBC and CNN.

The talks are set to taking place on Tuesday and are expected to focus on the division of certain assets, which Trump claimed are already being discussed. While no specific facility was mentioned, speculation points to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest one which has been under Russian control since March 2022. The Zaporizhzhia plant has been a focal point of international concern since Russian forces seized control during the early stages of the invasion.

The plant’s strategic value and major energy source could be a potential bargaining chip for a ceasefire; that is, some analysts suggest that it can be central to diplomatic discussions.

On the prospects of ending the war, Trump remained cautiously optimistic, stating, “Maybe we can, maybe we can’t. But I think we have a very good chance,” reports BBC Donald Trump has been pushing for a ceasefire in Ukraine, but Russia has remained somewhat cautious and have asked for some preconditions rather than clear commitments.

Previous attempts at negotiations have faltered over conflicting demands. Meanwhile, hostilities persist. Ukrainian and Russian drone attacks continued overnight, with Kyiv reporting ongoing Russian attempts to advance in the Sumy region of northern Ukraine. The ongoing violence underscores the fragile state of any potential peace talks and the complex geopolitical landscape negotiators face.