Analyst: Moscow is toying with Washington over Ukraine negotiations
US envoys told Ukrainian officials that a plan to permit Russian diesel exports is intended to bring Moscow back to negotiations after earlier efforts failed, according to Reuters sources. Analyst Grégoire Roos said Moscow is merely playing with Washington because Vladimir Putin thinks Donald Trump is on borrowed time. France 24's Sharon Gaffney interviewed Roos about the situation.
US envoys reportedly met Ukrainian officials on Friday and discussed a plan to allow Russian diesel exports. According to Reuters sources, this was intended to revive stalled attempts at longer-term negotiations to end the war.
Grégoire Roos, director of Chatham House's Europe, Russia and Eurasia programmes, spoke with France 24's Sharon Gaffney. He argued Moscow is not negotiating seriously, suggesting Putin views Trump as politically vulnerable and temporary.
The reported diesel-export proposal may affect Ukrainian officials, civilians, and diplomatic actors seeking an end to the war. If Moscow uses talks mainly as leverage, confidence in negotiations could weaken, while continued strikes and refinery attacks may prolong uncertainty for people in Ukraine. The outcome depends on whether Washington's outreach yields concrete de-escalation or simply delays harder choices.