The war between Ukraine and Russia rages on, now at a pivotal tipping point. Important technical aspects of a ceasefire agreement remain to be worked out. Face to face, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with then US President Donald Trump. Trump highlighted the need for quick action from both GOPers and Democrats to strike a deal. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Russia has recently intensified its military aggression, launching its deadliest attack in months with 70 missiles and 145 drones, primarily targeting Kyiv.
In their recent discussions, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s steadfast position regarding the peace deal, maintaining that the constitution of Ukraine asserts all temporarily occupied territories belong to the nation. This territory includes the strategically important Crimean peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. According to news reports, this is exactly what the U.S. peace proposal would allow Russia to do. This condition goes against Ukraine’s very stark stipulations.
Trump expressed concerns about the motivations behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions. He reiterated President Biden’s point that no one should be surprised that Putin was using missiles to attack civilian infrastructure. This has been true for cities and towns during the past few days. He further suggested that Putin may not genuinely seek to end the war, saying, “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along.”
The U.S. president warned that if an agreement is not reached soon, the United States would halt its mediation efforts. He underscored that “most of the major points are pretty much agreed to” in the peace agreement. He admitted that there’s a big gap between the U.S. vision of peace and the terms that Ukraine—and its European partners—would accept for a ceasefire.
This week’s missile strikes on the capital of Kyiv, including residential buildings, that killed at least 12 people, have dramatically escalated the need for a ceasefire. Trump condemned the attacks, stating, “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” His comments are an expression of the increasing impatience with the continuing carnage and loss of life.
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Moscow to discuss Washington’s peace proposal directly with Putin. Takeaways While there is some common ground, a wide chasm remains between the U.S. approach and the direction Ukraine is seeking. This funding gap continues to be a significant stumbling block in these negotiations.
Zelenskyy’s administration has consistently moved the goalposts, recently pushing for any deal to ensure Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The president remains resolute in his intention to return all currently-occupied land. At the same time, this position underscores a deeply rooted national attitude that these regions are naturally, and deservedly, Ukrainian.