A POSSIBLE solution to the Ukraine conflict appears to have come “closer than ever” (as per United States President Mr. Donald Trump’s description) -- following the all-important meeting between the American leader and Ukrainian President Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, the obstacle of security guarantee may stall -- or delay -- the fruition. When Mr. Trump has promised a 15-year security guarantee, Mr. Zelenskyy is insisting upon a 50-year guarantee so as to stave off any Russian mood and move to grab Ukraine’s land. At this stage, thus, a solution to the conflict appears rather uncertain -- and more so when Ukraine tries to bomb Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin’s country residence north of Moscow.

 

The attempt might have failed as the 90-plus drones were downed by security, but that may spoil Moscow’s willingness to agree for negotiations. The solution, thus, is pretty near ... yet pretty far. No matter Mr. Trump’s style of handling the peace efforts, it must be admitted that he is trying something extremely complex and difficult. For, he knows for certain that it was the US that was actually the principle pusher of Ukraine -- that is Mr. Zelenskyy -- into the conflict by driving him to go for NATO membership (which Russia opposed steadfastly for its own reasons). The Russian stance has not changed and the Ukrainian rigidity also remains more or less in the same groove. Though quite many nations have expressed sympathy for Ukraine’s trouble, there is little effort actually to address the issue. Russia is making Europe pay for its sins (of commission and omission) -- through the Ukranian channel. The difficulty with Mr. Donald Trump is that he wants to play two opposite roles at the same time -- of the instigator of action against Russia, and of the cobbler of peace.

 

In the process, the American President looks like making serious compromises with his country’s own stature -- earned over decades of handling of the trappings of being a superpower. At least at this stage, only the US and Ukraine are negotiating so-called peace between themselves -- with Russia watching the developments as an outsider. Moscow is the focus of the Trump-Zelenskyy parleys, all right, but possibly Mr. Trump may even be making a unilateral commitment -- in a fond hope that he may be able to win Mr. Putin over to his approach. Thus, in actual sense, the tussle between the 15-year peace guarantee as against a 50-year guarantee, is taking place only on this side of the divide (while on the other side, Mr. Putin only looks on). Though diplomatic conversations often take such a course -- hot-and-cold, near-and-far -- what is happening in peace efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is possibly a new experience to the world (as the effort is dogged by so many uncertainties).

 

n the inner sanctums of American diplomacy, however, there must be flowing an anti-Trump current since the President does not appear to be listening to the wise counsel of his own advisors. Or, another scenario also may be operating in those zones -- of confusion about how much lee-way to be granted to both, Russia and Ukraine, and whether Washington would ever be able to have its say ever. Or, the third possibility may that the Americans really do not know what to expect and how to make that expectation practically possible. This confusion has its own genesis and justification, all right. For, when a situation is dominated by confusion, a possibility may also emerge of an unexpected and hitherto undefined solution. Are parties waiting for that moment to surface -- while trying out different approaches? At least, the American attempts give that impression of uncertainty. The solution to the Ukraine conflict may take its own time, but when finally it does, the world may be seen locked in an altogether situation whose shape and size may be beyond anybody’s current comprehension and imagination.