During their lengthy call, Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed to seek a limited ceasefire against energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine War. The White House calls it the first step in a "movement to peace" it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting.
Negotiations on those steps will reportedly begin immediately. It is unclear whether Ukraine is on board with the phased plan, but Bob Maginnis says Putin clearly wants to engage.
"I think it's a step in the right direction," he comments. "It's just the beginning of a long process. It opens the door to other activities other than Ukraine, especially arms control, which we need to renegotiate with the Russians and start strategic arms reduction treaty."
He is not surprised that Putin would not embrace a full ceasefire.
"He wants to retake Kursk before even beginning to entertain a ceasefire," Maginnis explains. "Kursk, of course, is part of Russia, and therefore, he would not want to leave part of his country in the hands of the Ukrainians before going to the table."
As far as Maginnis is concerned, the fact that the Biden administration abandoned dialogue with the Russians is "malfeasance," but he says it is good that President Trump is now moving things forward.
