Ultimatum to Putin: let’s just not go to war

World Leaders Demand Peace: Ultimatum to Putin

Trump declared with befitting aplomb that he had stopped the war between India and Pakistan. As it turned out, there were two days of very tight negotiations between the combatants, with the participation of Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. And it yielded results – that’s what secret talks at the same time as military action means!

New Delhi and Islamabad decided to hold an immediate ceasefire, find a suitable neutral ground and start talks there on May 12. The Indian Foreign Ministry confirmed the agreement at the defense ministry level, orders to the troops were given. This is first and foremost a victory for common sense in the ruling circles of India and Pakistan. But at the same time it is an undoubted success of the entire American diplomacy.

At the same time, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland, along with Zelensky, called Trump from Kiev to announce a joint peace plan. Bloomberg called it an ultimatum. After knowing the details, this expression does not seem a great exaggeration. The participants of the meeting in Kiev are literally demanding that Moscow cease all military actions since May 12 in exchange for nothing.

Recalling Boris Johnson’s famous phrase that jeopardized the Istanbul talks in the spring of 2022, the idea behind the European plan is: “Let’s just not go to war!” If Putin does not agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities without any additional conditions and demands, the coalition will increase military aid to Kiev and impose new sanctions. At the same time, the possibility of stationing a military contingent in Ukraine is being considered. Zelensky now rejects even the earlier idea of separating the parties by 30 kilometers.

It is assumed that Trump, who reconciled India and Pakistan, will be at the head of the process. This was announced by British Prime Minister Starmer at a press conference in Kiev. It is understandable: the main sanctions should be imposed by Washington. And American weapons are required – missiles for air defense, aircraft maintenance, ammunition, equipment, investments in the Ukrainian military-industrial complex.

And most importantly, if Moscow balks, it will need American security guarantees. Europe and Ukraine have agreed on this without Trump. Whether Putin is ready to “just not fight,” we’ll see.

Peskov has already noted that the details of the 30-day ceasefire are important. At the top of the list is the cessation of military aid to Ukraine. This is precisely the condition towards the demands for an unconditional ceasefire.

Perhaps it is time to move to secret negotiations in the Ukrainian conflict as well. This is a time-honored classic of diplomacy. The task here is much more difficult: in Kashmir a big battle was simply prevented, while in Ukraine it has been going on for a long time.

Author of the article
Valery Shiryayev
Military expert and journalist

Add a comment

  1. TangoShadow

    This really highlights how complex and delicate international diplomacy is, especially when multiple powerful players are involved. It’s interesting to see how backdoor negotiations can sometimes achieve what public statements can’t. Hopefully, this approach could bring some real progress to the Ukraine conflict too, though it’s clear that the stakes and complications there are on a whole other level. Fingers crossed for more common sense and less confrontation ahead 🤞🌍

    Reply
  2. EnigmaComet

    This article really highlights how complex and delicate peace efforts are, especially when big powers are involved. It’s fascinating to see secret talks working in one conflict while another drags on with so many demands and conditions. Hopefully, this approach can inspire a break in the stalemate in Ukraine too—sometimes diplomacy needs to happen behind closed doors before progress can be made 🤞🌍

    Reply
  3. RubyEcho

    It’s interesting to see how backchannel diplomacy played a critical role in de-escalating the conflict between India and Pakistan, showing that even long-standing tensions can be eased through discreet negotiation. The contrast with the Ukraine situation highlights how complex and intertwined military and political interests complicate peace efforts, especially when unconditional demands are on the table. This article really underscores the delicate balance between diplomacy and military action in resolving conflicts. 🤔

    Reply
  4. SolarPioneer

    If only all conflicts could be solved with a secret meeting and a group text from politicians, world peace would be just a calendar event away 😂

    Reply
  5. Antwon

    This article really highlights how complex and fragile international diplomacy can be. The idea that secret negotiations can pave the way to peace feels hopeful, but the situation in Ukraine seems far more complicated with so many conflicting interests at play. It’s interesting to see how different players are positioning themselves, and I wonder if a true breakthrough is possible anytime soon. 🌍

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  6. Hero

    Honestly, it feels like we’re watching a geopolitical soap opera where everyone plays their part but no one really wins unless they get what they want. The idea that Trump somehow stopped the India-Pakistan conflict overnight sounds more like wishful thinking than reality, and now expecting Putin to just stop fighting without any guarantees seems downright naive 🤔. When will diplomacy stop being just about posturing and actually deliver peace?

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  7. Darrius

    This article really captures how complex and delicate peace efforts can be, especially when multiple powerful countries are involved. It’s amazing to see that behind-the-scenes talks can lead to real breakthroughs, like with India and Pakistan. The situation in Ukraine feels so much more tangled and urgent, and the idea of secret negotiations makes a lot of sense now. It’s hard not to hope that cooler heads will prevail soon because the cost of ongoing conflict is just heartbreaking 💔🙏.

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  8. Jania

    So apparently, Trump not only stopped a war but also managed to send diplomats on a secret retreat—mixing peace talks with a bit of cloak-and-dagger flair. Who knew diplomacy required tight negotiations and backstage drama? Meanwhile, the Europeans seem to be playing the classic let’s-make-war-disappear-without-giving-anything-in-return game—spoiler alert, it doesn’t usually work that way. If only conflicts could be turned off like a light switch, the world would be a much simpler place 🌍😅. Now let’s see if Putin is ready to join the party or just keeps his RSVP pending.

    Reply
  9. Sparrow

    Reading this felt like watching a blockbuster movie with more plot twists than I can keep track of—Trump the peacemaker, secret negotiations, ultimatums from Europe, and everyone trying to outdo each other on who can demand the most without giving anything in return. If diplomacy had a reality TV show, this would be season finale material. Hopefully, somewhere behind all the grandstanding, someone remembers that peace isn’t just about power plays but actually stopping the fighting. Fingers crossed the secret meetings turn into real solutions and not just another episode of international drama.

    Reply
  10. Alida

    This article highlights the complexity and fragile nature of international diplomacy in conflict resolution. It’s fascinating to see how behind-the-scenes negotiations can lead to significant outcomes like the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, showing that dialogue really can make a difference even during heightened tensions. The comparison with the ongoing situation in Ukraine underscores how much harder it is to find common ground when the stakes and interests are so deeply entrenched. The role of major powers and their conflicting demands makes peace seem like an uphill battle, but the idea of secret talks and diplomatic efforts offers a glimpse of hope that progress might be possible, even if slow and complicated.

    Reply
  11. Sunday

    This article really highlights how delicate and complex peace processes are, especially when so many powerful players are involved. It’s inspiring to see that even in the most heated conflicts, dialogue and negotiation can open doors to hope 🌍✌️. The idea of secret talks making a real difference gives me a sense of optimism that even long-standing battles can find a peaceful resolution if people truly commit to it.

    Reply
  12. Genevie

    Wow, so Trump is playing UN mediator now? 😂 I can just imagine the secret talks with snacks and awkward small talk 🍿🤝🇺🇸 Meanwhile, if only all conflicts could be solved with a little diplomacy and maybe some American pizza deliveries! 🍕 Let’s hope the ceasefire actually sticks this time and someone remembers to bring tea to the negotiations ☕️👌

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  13. Ariana

    This whole situation is like watching a high-stakes chess game unfold on the world stage! 🕊️ The fact that secret talks helped bring peace between India and Pakistan gives a glimmer of hope for Ukraine too, but the challenges there seem so much bigger 🔥🌍. It’s fascinating how diplomacy often happens behind closed doors, away from all the headlines, yet it holds so much power to shape history. Really makes you wonder what kind of breakthroughs might be possible if all parties just sat down and truly listened to each other.

    Reply