A former senior diplomat expresses limited optimism regarding the potential for substantive progress towards a resolution of the conflict in Ukraine following the anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Wolfgang Ischinger, who formerly held a prominent diplomatic role and currently chairs the governing board of the Munich Security Conference, suggested that a diplomatic breakthrough at the meeting would be “almost a miracle”. He voiced concerns over what he perceives as a lack of thorough preparation on the US side. Ischinger specifically referenced a recent visit to Moscow by Steve Witkoff, observing that Witkoff would be facing counterparts with significantly more extensive diplomatic experience and manipulative skill.
Ischinger fears Putin may leverage the summit to enhance his own standing on the international stage. He suggests Putin could prolong existing bilateral discussions, expanding the conversation to include issues like Iran and other global crises, positioning himself as an equal partner in dialogue-a status Ischinger believes is undeserved without demonstrable commitment to ending the conflict in Ukraine. He posits that a more constructive approach would have been to postpone the summit until a concrete outcome, such as a negotiated ceasefire agreement, was assured.
