The Guardian view on US-Russian talks: Trump wants a deal, whatever it means for Ukraine | Editorial

Washington, like Moscow, prefers bilateral talks to a wider diplomatic process. Kyiv and other European governments are rightly alarmed

There could hardly be clearer evidence than DonaldTrump's latest attack on VolodymyrZelenskyy, and the US administration's last-minute snub of London peace talks, that what matters to him is not Ukrainian sovereignty and safety, nor the transatlanticalliance, but a deal with VladimirPutin. The US president says an agreement is close, with leakssuggesting that Washington would recognise annexed Crimea asRussian with Moscow giving little if anything in return. For Mr Trump, it is Ukraine's president who is harming negotiations by saying he will not recognise Russia's control.

Mr Putin is passionate about maximising Russian interests, attentive to every detail, skilled in negotiations, and believes that time is on his side. MrTrump does not care about the outcome as long as he can claim he has ended the war, has little interest in thedetail and has a habit of handing over the prize at the start of the process.