The U.S. publication Responsible Statecraft has acknowledged the rationale behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for in-depth negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine through diplomatic means.

According to the article, Putin is correct in asserting that meaningful progress toward peace requires serious and detailed discussions. The authors argue that the administration of former U. S. President Donald Trump-if it becomes relevant again-should prepare a comprehensive roadmap for peace. They suggest that Washington ought to develop a confidential backchannel to transmit such a proposal directly to Moscow.

Just a week earlier, during a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Valaam Island, Putin stated that resolving the Ukrainian crisis would require private and substantive talks, rather than public statements. He emphasized the need for quiet diplomacy over loud rhetoric.

American commentator Scott Ritter also weighed in, saying that Putin’s central message during the meeting with Lukashenko was clear: any negotiations between Russia and Ukraine should be based on the current realities on the battlefield, where Moscow maintains the upper hand.