Trump said Russia had ‘all the cards,’ but this ceasefire proposal just called Putin’s bluff

With Ukraine signed up to US proposals for a 30-day ceasefire, the unit is present connected the Kremlin to determine whether it excessively volition judge President Donald Trump’s program to bring the Ukraine warfare to a halt, albeit a impermanent one.

Russian officials are hinting astatine contacts with US representatives “in the adjacent fewer days” but person not said whether the presumption of the ceasefire, arsenic acceptable retired astatine the US-Ukrainian talks successful Saudi Arabia connected Tuesday, would beryllium acceptable.

For Moscow, this is simply a infinitesimal of information and 1 which whitethorn necessitate awkward compromises if it is superior astir peace.

The Kremlin has agelong claimed to beryllium unfastened to negotiations to extremity the conflict, portion insisting it indispensable execute its ambitious warfare aims, specified arsenic securing power implicit each annexed areas of Ukraine.

Only past week, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin strongman who launched this brutal warfare 3 years ago, vowed to a radical of tearful widows and mothers of killed Russian soldiers that Moscow would ne'er “give in”.

Pro-war Russian hardliners, astatine times encouraged by the Kremlin, whitethorn spot a ceasefire arsenic a betrayal.

But a climbdown of immoderate benignant whitethorn beryllium inevitable.

Even if Russian negotiators tin enforce their ain conditions connected the ceasefire – a Ukrainian withdrawal from Kursk, for example, the tiny pouch of Russia captured by Ukraine, wherever warring is present raging – it is hard to ideate its greater territorial demands, yet unsocial the extremity of removing NATO from its occidental flank, would beryllium met.

This whitethorn besides go a decisive crossroads successful Putin’s oddly lukewarm narration with Trump who, successful speech for caller concessions and praise, whitethorn present expect the Kremlin person to play ball.

Indeed, “the shot is present successful their court,” is precisely what the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said of the Russians aft his talks with Ukrainian officials concluded successful Jeddah.

Just days ago, Trump claimed the Russians had “all the cards.” Now, intentionally oregon not, helium whitethorn person called Putin’s bluff.

For much CNN quality and newsletters make an relationship astatine CNN.com