Ukraina

 Unless Putin's perception of Ukraine changes, a peace deal won't be possible

published at 19:43

19:43

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

President Trump’s bold statement of moving “directly to a peace agreement” is mind-boggling. But that's the kind of world Trump lives in.

During his election campaign he talked about ending the Ukraine war in a day. Then he changed it to 100 days. Everyone has stopped counting as more lives are lost and land ravaged.

Trump prides himself on having written The Art of the Deal. But a peace deal in this region is layered with disputed history and deep-seated hostilities.

Like any negotiations of this complexity, reaching a peace agreement will take time, and most of all, the readiness of the warring parties to work towards a deal rather than continuing to wage war.

Ukraine, more than anyone else, yearns for an end to this war. But, at this moment, it’s hard to imagine a peace deal when Putin hasn’t even agreed to an extended pause in the fighting.

And for Ukraine, it's about more than just territory; it's about sovereignty too.

Putin has given no indication he’s shifted from his view that Ukraine isn’t a real country; he’s repeatedly made it clear it belongs in Russia. Unless that - and a lot else - shifts, a peace deal won't be possible.