TASS quoted an unnamed US political expert as saying after a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on March 18 that the strategy of promoting dialogue with Russia on many diplomatic fronts, not only revolving around the issue of Ukraine, has helped the two countries make significant strides - part of a ceasefire agreement in the energy sector.
"These discussions mark the first substantial step on the long and challenging path to a peaceful settlement," the US expert said. However, the ultimate success will depend on the ability of all parties, including Ukraine, to build a feasible and practical roadmap for long-term peace.
Former NATO Deputy Secretary General and former US Deputy Secretary of State for arms Control and International Security, Ms. Rose Gottemoeller, assessed the agreement reached in the phone call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin as a "first positive step".
She said the two leaders had returned to the original stance proposed by Ukraine, including stopping long-range airstrikes on energy infrastructure and other strategic targets.
Gottemoeller suggested that the next step could be a ceasefire in the Black Sea and an airstrike lift, which she said would receive support from both Kiev and Europe.
However, the former NATO official also pointed out clear differences between Russia and the US in the content of the discussion between Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump. She hopes that both sides will have a common understanding of what has been discussed.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had explained in detail to Washington Trump's plan to implement a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
However, Mr. Peskov also emphasized that these topics are highly sensitive, require extensive discussion at the bilateral level and should not become a topic of public debate.
Although the road ahead is still full of obstacles, the fact that the US and Russia can reach a consensus, even in part, is also a remarkable signal. Whether Trump's initiative can create a turning point for the conflict will depend on how relevant parties - especially Ukraine - participate in this process.
