Luc Frieden, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, has criticized US President Donald Trump for seeming to disregard the current realities regarding potential peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. While Frieden expressed his own hope for peace in Ukraine, he warned that a significant gap exists between mere hope and achievable reality.
Frieden pointed out that despite efforts made by the United States to encourage Putin toward negotiations, Russia has yet to demonstrate any indication that it is seriously interested in meaningful discussions about a permanent peace.
He refuted claims made by Trump at the NATO summit suggesting that peace in Ukraine was close to happening. Accompanying this, the Luxembourg Prime Minister stated, “We saw that last summer. There is still a long road ahead before negotiations actually lead to lasting peace.”
Although recent positive developments in the conflict area are a crucial factor in convincing Moscow to negotiate, Frieden added that Russia’s economic condition and its domestic public opinion also play a role. He cautioned, however, that assessing Russian public opinion from outside is exceptionally difficult.
