{"id":1308320,"date":"2025-10-18T14:57:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T11:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/washington-budapest-is-an-end-to-the-war-possible\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T09:01:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T06:01:59","slug":"washington-budapest-is-an-end-to-the-war-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/washington-budapest-is-an-end-to-the-war-possible\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington to Budapest: Can the War Really End?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: Author’s Facebook<\/a> page<\/em>
\nTrump\u2019s statement after talks with Zelenskyy makes clear that his goal is to halt the war on the front lines. The key question now is: what will Putin say in response?<\/strong><\/p>\n

So far, Russian media have completely ignored Trump\u2019s statement about the front line. Such unanimity is possible only on direct instructions from the Kremlin. The Kremlin typically employs three tactics in such situations: it offers its own interpretation; it allows the media to bury an unwanted story amid speculation and then selects a few dominant narratives for public consumption; or it simply switches to silence. As of now, twelve hours after Trump\u2019s statement, the Kremlin has chosen silence.<\/p>\n

The meaning of this silence is difficult to determine at the moment. It could signal preparation for agreeing to the proposed formula, or, conversely, preparation to say \u201cno\u201d in Budapest.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s conversation with Zelenskyy appears to have been a kind of ultimatum, framed with introductory points: Trump seeks a ceasefire on the front line and is willing to accommodate Putin\u2019s other demands \u2014 including recognition of Russian parties in elections, concessions to the Russian Orthodox Church, acknowledgment of the Russian language, withdrawal of lawsuits, and partial lifting of sanctions. It remains unclear what Russia will demand in return regarding the reduction of Ukraine\u2019s missile program, armed forces, and broader military-industrial complex. If an agreement is reached, presidential elections would be held within forty-five days, possibly concurrently with elections to the Verkhovna Rada.<\/p>\n

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