Two hours of talks, but no concrete results or joint statement. And yet, in both Washington and Moscow, the phone conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Monday, May 19, was shown in a favorable light, serving different narratives. Neither leader wants to acknowledge a break or failure in their rapprochement, while the American president unsuccessfully sought a prolonged ceasefire in Ukraine, or even a resolution to the conflict. His motivation seems to have waned.

In his statement, Trump did not even mention possible new sanctions against Russia, preferring to renew vague promises of prosperity and lucrative trade for all parties involved. The hardline approach advocated by the Europeans, based on further tightening of sanctions, is not one that the White House shares at this stage.

Trump found that "the tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. If it wasn't, I would say so now, rather than later." According to the US president, Russia and Ukraine will "immediately" begin negotiations for peace, but the conditions for this will be directly discussed between the two capitals involved. This is a way for Washington to initiate disengagement.

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