Kyiv's allies must not fall into the trap set by Putin

A halt to the killing in Ukraine is a highly desirable aim. A permanent end to the war would be a truly wonderful achievement. Who would not welcome an agreement that stopped Russia's daily slaughter of civilians and its destruction of Ukraine's cities, and which allowed millions of displaced people to return home? But peace at any price is no peace at all, as history shows and we have repeatedly argued here. In his untutored haste, Donald Trump risks rushing into a bad deal with Vladimir Putin that could set the stage for renewed conflict in Ukraine and other vulnerable countries bordering Russia and for an overall weakening of Europe's security.

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The initial 30-day truce under discussion by US and Russian officials reportedly entails a complete halt to fighting and temporary freezing of the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. It provides for the exchange of prisoners of war, release of civilian detainees and return from Russia of abducted Ukrainian children. The truce could be extended. But Russia's president is adamant that, before it even begins, many longer-term issues must be addressed, including the most fundamental: Ukraine's future as an independent, sovereign state.

This attempt by Putin to set highly problematic conditions must be resisted by Trump and western leaders. As Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, it is a transparent bid to delay and manipulate the negotiations and win broader concessions, while allowing Moscow's forces time to pursue battlefield gains, notably in Russia's contested Kursk region. It is not reasonable to insist on a halt to military aid to Kyiv during a truce. Putin's demand that the historical "root causes" of the conflict be examined is a cynical trap, set to gain wider advantage.