BEIJING, March 19. /TASS/. The agreements reached between the Russian and US presidents, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, respectively, in Tuesday’s phone call are more realistic and achievable than the demands put forward by Ukraine, Zheng Rongyu, an expert from the Center for Russian Studies at the East China Pedagogical University in Shanghai, told TASS.
"This is a plan that Ukraine cannot reject and that it can agree to. Unlike the push for a comprehensive and absolute ceasefire that Ukraine insists on, the latest plan is more realistic and achievable," Zheng believes.
According to him, through the achievement of quite specific and feasible results, Russia will improve its international posture, by creating conditions for reducing the pressure and easing the sanctions in the future. Trump, too, has achieved certain tangible results, the expert argued. "This is a diplomatic victory, to a certain extent," he said.
Yesterday’s phone call was an expected result of comprehensive arrangements at earlier stages that reflects pragmatic diplomatic efforts, Zheng continued. "This shows that great powers can maintain communication even if a conflict erupts and that the problem can be resolved," the Chinese expert said. The latest conversation between the two leaders "paved the way for more high-profile meetings" and sent a good signal for moving ahead, he concluded.
Putin and Trump held a phone call on March 18, discussing the idea of a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, ways to prevent a further escalation of tensions and a number of international issues, the Kremlin said earlier. The Russian leader supported the US president’s initiative for an energy and infrastructure ceasefire in Ukraine.