Latest news with #US-endorsed
Asia Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Asia Times
Hopes for a Xi-Trump summit are naively misplaced
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping's surprise phone call—marking the first direct communication between the leaders in months—may signal a temporary thaw in an otherwise frosty and structurally adversarial relationship. While America's restoration of Chinese student visas and China's resumption of blocked critical mineral trade suggest detente, this contact, like others in the history of US-China summits, could quickly prove to be more performative than substantive. The danger lies not in dialogue but in the illusion that the leader-to-leader call, which Beijing insisted Trump requested, will meaningfully alter the deep geopolitical, ideological and economic divergences that define Sino-American relations today. News reports said Xi told Trump to roll back tariffs and other trade measures that are roiling the global economy while warning him about intensifying the dispute over Taiwan. Trump claimed on social media that the call delivered a 'positive conclusion', including on China's restrictions on critical mineral exports, and that lower-level discussions on trade would follow. He said, 'We're in very good shape with China and the trade deal.' Both leaders invited each other to visit their countries. However, reports noted that there was nothing in either side's official statements to indicate the critical mineral issue had been resolved. And China has reasonable cause to remain on guard despite Trump's post-call positivity. Let us count the many impediments to real and lasting reconciliation: The most acute danger stems from Trump's lack of strategic coherence. Unlike the Kissinger-Nixon doctrine of detente, which was structured, calculated and guided by a realpolitik vision of global balance, Trump's approach is reactive and transactional and thus prone to Chinese manipulation. Concessions, including the reopening of student exchanges on the US side and lifting critcal mineral restrictions on China's—appear to be issued in exchange for vague 'reciprocity' rather than any long-term strategic realignment. For Beijing, such inconsistency is easily exploitable. Xi understands that Trump is prone to tactical surprises and policy reversals, allowing China to notch one-by-one concessions while offering minimal structural reforms or broad policy changes in return. This understanding of Trump's tactics and views may also embolden China to keep testing US resolve and commitment in the Taiwan Strait, East Sea and South China Seas, knowing that by doing so it strengthens its negotiating leverage in wresting future US concessions. Much has been made of US-endorsed 'de-risking' from China without actually 'decoupling.' The resumption of trade in critical minerals—crucial to US defense and clean energy sectors—signals a potential pause in America's techno-economic containment of China, which if lasting, would contradict the bipartisan consensus in Washington that China poses a 'systemic challenge.' This could also send mixed messages to allies such as Japan, South Korea and key ASEAN economies, many of which are now being pressured to restrict technology transfers to China, particularly in regard to AI and quantum computing. If Trump reverses this posture, potentially at a Trump-Xi in-person summit, it would necessarily undercut the anti-China coalition the US has been trying to build since 2017 and signal a climbdown of epic proportions. An in-person summit with Xi would give both leaders global optics, something they arguably both need as their hardline stances cause political tremors at home and restlessness abroad. Yet symbolism without substance carries its own risks. The 2019 Mar-a-Lago summit and the 2018 G20 truce in Argentina were celebrated photo ops that ultimately yielded few strategic gains. Indeed, they were followed by tariff escalations, cyber accusations and deepened distrust. Xi, ever conscious of China's 'national rejuvenation' drive, may use a summit with Trump to signal that China is not isolated—even amid Western efforts to contain it – and that he brought the US to heel through his tough negotiating posture. Should he succeed in presenting Trump as a president willing to do business without political preconditions, it will bolster China's power on the world stage. This symbolism would serve Xi well amid research that shows China is straining under the weight of assisting various countries when its own economy remains fragile. There will be a temptation to portray a Trump-Xi summit as a return to the two sides' previous 'managed rivalry' model. Yet this notion is predicated on mutual trust, which no longer exists. A brief thaw may offer breathing space for both, but there is no sign yet of lasting strategic stability. During the previous Cold War, the US and Soviet Union were able to negotiate arms control and crisis management protocols. No such guardrails exist between the US and China today. The resumption of critical mineral trade and educational exchanges, while welcome, won't be enough to reverse mutual mistrust, especially when military encounters in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea could easily still spiral out of control. Increasingly politicized charges against Chinese nationals in the US are fueling that mistrust. Those include new accusations that China is involved in 'agro-terrorism' that aims to wipe out US barley, wheat and corn yields by up to 50%. A PhD researcher of Chinese origin at the University of Michigan has been arrested in this connection. A potential Trump-Xi summit – despite stage-managed positive vibes and smiles for the cameras, could be yet another empty ritual—a theatrical handshake over unresolved and deep contradictions. To be sure, both leaders have reasons to engage. Trump seeks headlines as his popularity slips ahead of 2026 midterm elections; Xi seeks legitimacy for his tough negotiating posture that risks millions of Chinese factory jobs. But neither is offering a strategic roadmap that can reassure domestic or global audiences. Without a shared understanding of what strategic competition entails, and without mechanisms for escalation control, the optics of detente will only mask a rivalry that still threatens to spiral deeper and deeper into conflict.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
After Trump-Putin call, Russia rains missiles & drones on Kyiv, kills 4
Days after a call between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Russia has launched a barrage of missiles and drones on Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Officials have said that at least four people have been killed. read more Fire and smoke rise in the city after a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 6, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) Days after Vladimir Putin vowed to respond to Ukraine's Operation Spider Web in a call with US President Donald Trump, Russia on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday attacked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones. Ukrainian authorities said at least four people have been killed in Kyiv and 20 have been injured. As Russia had been attacking Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on a near-daily basis for weeks before Ukraine's drone operation, it is not yet clear if the overnight barrage was part of such nightly attack or was a response to the drone operation that Putin referred. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Sunday, Ukraine attacked five airbases across the length and breadth of Russia with drones under Operation Spider Web. With 117 drones, Ukraine said it destroyed nearly a third of Russia's long-range, nuclear-capable bomber and surveillance aircraft's fleets. After a phone call on Wednesday, Trump said that Putin told him he would respond 'very strongly' to Ukraine's attack. Other than Kyiv, Russia also struck the city of Lutsk near the Ukraine's border with Poland and injured five people, according to CNN. Russia hits civilian areas in Kyiv, says Ukraine Ukrainian officials have said that Russia struck civilian areas in Kyiv and elsewhere. Kyiv's military administration head Timur Tkachenko said that Russia struck a 16-storey apartment building in the capital's area. Mayor Vitali Klitschko also said that fires were reported fires in Holosiivskyi and Darnytskyi areas of the capital after Russian strikes. By 2 am, it had been reported that two Russian long-range bombers were involved in the attack. Kyiv Post reported analysts as saying that the unusually low number of aircraft appeared to be the result of Ukraine destroying nearly a third of Russia's bombers' fleet. Beside bombers, Russia also used a Kalibr cruise missile from its Black Sea fleet, according to the newspaper. Even though Ukraine and Russia have started direct talks in Turkey, no ceasefire is in sight. So far, Russia has rejected all three US-endorsed offers of ceasefire whereas Ukraine has accepted all of them. Yet Trump has not yet taken any action on Russia. Instead, he has continued to build pressure on Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the latest instance of ignoring Russian attacks and pressuring Ukraine, Trump on Thursday said that he was considering imposing sanctions on Ukraine and Russia both for stopping the war — even though Ukraine is the defender.
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First Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Ahead of Trump-Putin call, European leaders call for Russia to agree to 30-day ceasefire
Ahead of a call between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, European leaders have called for Russia to accept the US-endorsed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. read more Ahead of a scheduled call between US and Russian leaders, European leaders on Sunday held talks with President Donald Trump and called for Russia to accept a US-endorsed 30-day ceasefire proposal. The European leaders who held talks with Trump included French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Macron said in a post on X that Putin 'must show he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and backed by Ukraine and Europe'. Starmer said that they 'discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and for President Putin to take peace talks seriously'. He further said that they discussed the use of sanctions if Russia 'failed to engage seriously in a ceasefire and peace talks'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump on Saturday said that he will hold talks with Putin over phone at 10 am ET (7:30 pm India time) on Monday and then call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) countries — France, UK, Germany, and Italy are Nato members. Zelenskyy and European leaders have stressed that Putin must accept a US-endorsed 30-day ceasefire proposal as part of peace efforts. So far, Putin has rejected all three ceasefire proposals floated by Trump — including the 30-day ceasefire proposal. Zelenskyy has accepted all three proposals. Zelenskyy meets Vance ahead of Trump's call Zelenskyy met US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of Pope Leo's inauguration on Sunday. This was their first meeting since Vance shouted at Zelenskyy and berated him at the White House in February. The meeting was aimed at preparing for a call between Trump and Zelenskyy on Monday, according to Guardian. Zelenskyy described the meeting as 'good' and said, 'I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible.' A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Guardian that Zelenskyy and Vance discussed 'the situation on the front, preparations for [Trump's phone conversations on Monday], the possibility of sanctions against Russia if there are no results, a ceasefire'. Trump's call with Putin comes after direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, the first since 2022, failed to produce a breakthrough in Turkey last week. After Putin refused to join talks and sent a low-level delegation, there were no expectations of a breakthrough. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Putin defies peace efforts with massive drone barrage In defiance of Trump's peace initiative, Putin launched the largest drone attacks on Ukraine on Sunday. Russia launched a total of 273 drones on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday at Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions, according to Ukraine's air force. Separately, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency HUR has said that Russia is preparing to test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in yet another show of defiance amid peace efforts. It said that Russia is preparing to test-launch RS-24 Yars missile on Monday evening. The nuclear missile will carry a non-nuclear training warhead for the purpose of the test-launch, according to the HUR. The HUR has said that the purpose of the test-launch is to build pressure on Ukraine and its European partners.
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First Post
30-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Russia seeks to carve buffer zone in northern Sumy province, says governor
Russia has sought to carve out a buffer zone in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy province to prevent forces from mounting cross-border operations in Kursk and Belgorod regions read more Russia is seeking to carve out a buffer zone in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy, according to the provincial governor. Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov said on Telegram that Russia is attacking four villages of Zhuravka, Veselivka, Basivka, and Novenke, and they are currently in a 'grey zone'. Earlier, Russia claimed to have seized control of Zhuravka and Basivka, but Ukraine denied that none of these four villages had been lost to Russia. 'Currently, the enemy continues to try to carve out a buffer zone on the territory of our region, but has not had any significant success,' said Hryhorov. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The idea behind the push in Sumy appears to be to create a buffer zone to stop any incursion from Ukraine into Kursk — Sumy borders Kursk. For months, Ukraine has warned of Russian attacks in Sumy from Kursk and Belgorod regions of Russia. The development comes at a time when US President Donald Trump appears to be frustrated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin for not accepting a peace deal. In his latest attempt to strike peace, he floated a seven-point peace proposal. Ukraine rejected it as it sought to recognise all provinces annexed by Russia. However, Russia rejected as the proposal did not cover its maximalist demands in entirety. Russia has also rejected all three US-endorsed temporary ceasefire proposals — Ukraine has accepted all three proposals. While Trump has always been harsh on Ukraine and the nation's leader, Zelenskyy, he has lately expressed mild disappointment with Putin as well. He has wondered in public remarks whether Putin is playing with him. However, unlike the time he suspended aid to Ukraine and called for Zelenskyy's ouster, he has not taken any action to punish Russia or Putin. Last year, Ukraine invaded Kursk and captured large swathes of territory. It also captured territory in neighbouring Belgorod region. However, Russia has now recaptured most of territory in these two regions. The idea behind Ukranian assaults inside Russia was to exchange captured Russian land for Russian-controlled Ukrainian in any peace negotiations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD DeepState, an open-source analyst focussed on Ukraine, said that around 52 sq km of the Sumy region are in the contested 'grey zone', according to Reuters.
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First Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
With recognition of Russian occupation, Trump's 'peace plan' seeks Ukraine's surrender
With his seven-point 'final offer' to end the war, US President Donald Trump has essentially sought Ukraine's surrender to Russia read more US President Donald Trump shouts at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during their interaction with the press at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2025. Reuters File With his 'final offer' to end the war, US President Donald Trump has shoved impossible demands on Ukraine. Understandably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the offer. In the seven-point document, Trump had essentially sought Ukraine's surrender to Russia. The document was the latest display of the changed global alignments under Trump. While he had always been friendly with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, he has completely aligned the United States with Russia in his second by breaking off from Western alliances and partnerships. As a result, in the name of ending the war, whereas he has consistently pressured Ukraine —by often resorting to falsehoods— he has not put any pressure on aggressor Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In their disastrous meeting at the White House in which Trump and his deputy JD Vance took turns to berate Zelenskyy, one of the things that apparently ticked Trump was that Zelenskyy did not talk nicely about Putin. After Zelenskyy said that Putin started the war and that he 'hates' Ukraine, Trump chastised him and said that 'it's wonderful to speak badly about somebody else, but I want to get it solved'. Trump's proposal has everything for Russia, nothing for Ukraine In the seven-point ceasefire proposal reported by The Daily Telegraph, there is little to nothing for Ukraine but almost everything that Russia wants. In the first point, Trump proposed an immediate ceasefire. Last month, Ukraine accepted a US-endorsed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire but Russia rejected it. Ukraine also accepted US-endorsed proposals for ceasefire in the Black Sea and ceasefire related to energy infrastructure. Russia did not accept any of these proposals. In the second point, Trump proposed direct talks between Ukraine and Russia. In the third point, Trump rules out Ukraine's membership of Nato. However, Trump leaves room for Ukraine to join the European Union (EU). He also leaves room for Europe to deploy any peacekeeping force in Ukraine. In the fourth —a deal-breaker for Ukraine— point, Trump proposes US legal recognition of Crimea, a region of Ukraine that Russia invaded, captured, and annexed in 2014. In the fifth point, Trump proposes US de facto recognition of four regions of Ukraine that Russia has annexed. These regions are Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In offerings to Ukraine that mean little in the larger scheme of things, Trump has proposed that Ukraine would regain unhindered access to the mouth of the Dnipro river and Russia would vacate the partially occupied Kherson province. In the sixth point, Trump has proposed the signing of US-Ukraine minerals deal. In the seventh point, Trump has proposed a new US-Russia relationship by lifting all sanctions on Russia and resuming economic and political ties. 'It's harder to deal with Zelenskyy' Trump on Wednesday said that he believes he has a deal with Russia but dealing with Zelenskyy is 'harder'. Trump accused Zelenskyy of being 'inflammatory'. Trump further said, 'I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky. So far, it's harder.' Trump's remarks came days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Trump administration would end mediation if it would conclude within days that a deal to end the war soon is not possible. Rubio was supposed to join his counterparts from Ukraine and Europe in a meeting on Wednesday, but he cancelled it after Zelenskyy rejected the proposal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On his part, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine's constitution does not allow either the government or parliament to cede territory as Trump has demanded. Regarding the proposal, Zelenskyy said: 'There is nothing to talk about. This violated our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of Ukraine.'
