Trump is in talks with Russia to end the war

[sahgwa]

Putin wants Ukraine to no longer be a Sovereign Country and have no military.

Can you share sources that support this?
I am reading below that Russia wants Ukraine to be neutral.  To be neutral is to retain sovereignty and not have military alliance with US or Russia. 
https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says...025-02-12/

[Maxmars]

Really, I got the impression Ukrainian freedom fighters and the people are fighting for their culture/country. If it's all about the money why didn't Putin simply make a really good offer/deal? Wasn't Putin worth $600 Billion before the start of the invasion?

Well, if we are going to ooze sarcasm, I could oblige as well.

How the heck can anyone say whether "Putin" is even in a position to "make a deal?" 

We've spent generations watching the same tactics -  propping up a villain to 'personify' the evil other side, always finding out later that the person we all swayed in unison as we chant hatred slogans was just an 'image' for public consumption.  We then learn (after it's too late) that there were other 'backstage' players screwing around, and using the incest between institutions in nations to promote their "narrative."  

Sorry... I can't find myself in a position to actually embrace the idea "this is different" from any major conflict in the past.  There will be huge beneficiaries of this war... and among them, you will find few Ukrainians, fewer Russians, and amazingly... many citizens of the "other" category.  I'm starting to believe that it appears the tools of war are in the hands of adolescents... among other things.

Do you know the real reason hundreds of millions in resources and thousands upon thousands dead were the "acceptable" trade-off to this dire need "for a treaty" between the "people" of Ukraine and Russia? I can't say I do... not really.  If this is about "revenge" it will never end.  All the ideologies and diplomatic gamesmanship in the world are just a cover 

Like many I speak to, you seem fixated on the idea that this is "Putin's" game... a nice idea that it can be all dumped onto one "supervillain."
I'm sure it is to some degree... but probably not entirely, and only as a "designated" 'cult personality' to focus on....

The people of Ukraine seem not to have 'started' this war, but they weren't actually actively avoiding it either... I wonder if they really had a choice... or was it just the usual "Six guys in a room™?"

[putnam6]

It's a shame Trump doesn't seem to want to know what the actual Ukrainians want here? I don't know, maybe he could try talking to them and inviting them to the peace talks???

No need, this is likely to find a baseline from Putin and take it from there, whatever comes from this be then given to Ukraine and they will counteroffer, you know like feeling out process.  I get the feeling if they sit down together now it would be nothing but arguing and posturing. 

Russians are always going to start by asking for the moon and the stars it doesn't mean they will get it

[DISRAELI]

I venture to predict that the terms will include a plebiscite  in the easternmost disputed areas. There ought to be one in the Crimea which would include the option "neither of them".

[putnam6]

Yeah, I get it the left is pensive about sending a guy with no diplomatic background, but the guy seems to know negotiations and was helpful with the Israel negotiations.

What does it hurt? Perhaps they want to speak bluntly and in a way that they can't with Zelensky and NATO member nations for now. 

Let's not act as if Trump/Putin will make a secret pact to divvy up Europe when the time comes

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgq0q0eq28no

Trump dispatches NY real estate dealmaker to solve global crisesWhen US President Donald Trump wanted someone to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin last week to open negotiations for a potential deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, he didn't dispatch his secretary of state.
The man he sent to the Kremlin to handle a titanic geopolitical challenge does not even have a diplomatic background.
Instead Trump picked his personal friend, golf buddy and billionaire real estate developer Steve Witkoff.
The president has made Witkoff his Middle East envoy. But last week the Bronx-born businessman found himself in discussions about ending a conflict in Eastern Europe - having been "with [Putin] for a very extended period, like about three hours", in Trump's words.

 
Witkoff was in Moscow to help facilitate a deal that saw the US and Russia swap prisoners, which was seen as signalling a possible thaw in relations between the two countries.
Witkoff also played a part in brokering the current ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, for which both Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden took credit.
Though he was not yet officially in his post, Witkoff flew to Tel Aviv to meet Netanyahu before the deal was brokered in Qatar. He then spent time with Biden's envoy Brett McGurk in Doha, who later praised their cooperation, calling it a "very close partnership, even friendship", according to the Washington Post.
Witkoff is now returning to the region, specifically Saudi Arabia, for the first US-Russian face-to-face talks over the war in Ukraine after Trump had his own call with Putin. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz are also attending.
But the bold moves made by Trump's team are stirring concern among Western allies, who fear a new world order in which key players are shut out of discussions. Ukraine and other European nations were not invited to the Saudi meeting.

[Oldcarpy2]

"Trump dispatches NY real estate dealmaker to solve global crisesWhen US President Donald Trump wanted someone to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin last week to open negotiations for a potential deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, he didn't dispatch his secretary of state.
The man he sent to the Kremlin to handle a titanic geopolitical challenge does not even have a diplomatic background.
Instead Trump picked his personal friend, golf buddy and billionaire real estate developer Steve Witkoff."

My goodness.

We are living in the Apprentice World.

This is surreal.

[sahgwa]

Yeah, I get it the left is pensive about sending a guy with no diplomatic background, but the guy seems to know negotiations and was helpful with the Israel negotiations.

What does it hurt? Perhaps they want to speak bluntly and in a way that they can't with Zelensky and NATO member nations for now. 

Let's not act as if Trump/Putin will make a secret pact to divvy up Europe when the time comes

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgq0q0eq28no

outside the box, i'm loving it.
no wonder the corrupt career politicians are squealing.

[Oldcarpy2]

Hmmm...let's put our faith in a Democrat turned Republican Narcissist with a record of corporate bankruptcies.....

Quite the deal maker:

https://www.thoughtco.com/donald-trump-b...es-4152019

[Maxmars]

Hmmm...let's put our faith in a Democrat turned Republican Narcissist with a record of corporate bankruptcies.....

Quite the deal maker:

https://www.thoughtco.com/donald-trump-b...es-4152019

I can only speak personally, but I never place my faith in any person I don't know (and who has to resort to "selling" their image.)

The "corporate" world is, metaphorically speaking, one of piracy and intrigue, almost everyone knows that... even the media "entertains" us with that particular slice of life.  It has become a common feature in the shady pasts of all of them, Trump included.  But allegations aside, massaging the facts to a fixed narratives only makes memery,  it doesn't 'replace' or 'usurp' evidence... as you know, an essential the point of the law. 

A monopoly of media control makes it possible to 'make of the news' what the establishment wishes it to seem...
I know this isn't shocking. 

I think it's possible that neither of us know whether Trump is the demon, the savior, or just a man.

Meanwhile... there's popcorn... most of this is theater, after all.

[quintessentone]

Can you share sources that support this?
I am reading below that Russia wants Ukraine to be neutral.  To be neutral is to retain sovereignty and not have military alliance with US or Russia. 
https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says...025-02-12/

What Putin means by 'neutral' is to oust Zelensky and prop up a puppet leader chosen by Putin.