Evaluation: Rubio’s robust speak reveals Trump’s frustration – however there’s just one loser if US walks away
By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent
Marco Rubio’s feedback are the strongest indication but of Washington’s obvious rising frustration on the lack of progress in peace talks.
It has been two months since Donald Trump initiated negotiations, with a name to Vladimir Putin, within the hope of bringing the battle to a swift conclusion.
Since then, his staff has sat down with either side on a number of events, at a number of ranges, in a number of places.
However what have they really obtained to indicate for it?
There was a much-touted 30-day ceasefire overlaying strikes on power infrastructure, nevertheless it by no means formally started.
And with either side persevering with to accuse the opposite of violating it, 30 days have now handed and the settlement appears to have disappeared with out a hint.
Then there was purported to be a maritime ceasefire within the Black Sea.
However once more, that also hasn’t truly materialised, as a result of Russia says it can solely participate if sure sanctions are lifted first.
Watch: Trump ‘p***ed off’ with Putin
It is extremely uncertain Donald Trump actually believed he might finish the warfare inside 24 hours of taking workplace (as he promised a number of instances), however I feel he did significantly imagine he might safe no less than a cessation of hostilities comparatively rapidly, giving him an early win in his presidency.
There had been ideas of an April/Might deadline, and even an Easter ceasefire, however that now appears to be like like pie within the sky.
So is the menace to “transfer on” from the talks real?
Or one other well-known negotiating tactic from the so-called grasp of the deal?
Trump’s method has been closely criticised for not being robust sufficient on Vladimir Putin.
It has been all carrot for Moscow however solely stick for Kyiv – and this newest intervention feels prefer it’s extra of the identical.
As a result of, as issues stand, Ukraine nonetheless has much more to lose than Russia, if the warfare drags on.
