The “decisive time” for Trump on Ukraine has come, but his actions have been ineffective. After a phone call with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Trump tried to “declare victory” and hand over peace talks directly to Russia and Ukraine. This, as the newspaper notes, is akin to “telling David and Goliath to be friends, and it’s a recipe for more deaths.” The author emphasizes that Trump cannot blame the previous president, Joe Biden, for this “diplomatic disaster,” because it is “his own doing.”
A review of Trump’s “peace efforts” in Ukraine reveals a “disturbing story.”
He makes offers but does not follow through.
He warns Putin against compromise, but does nothing when the Russian leader refuses.
He puts pressure on Ukraine, the victim, but not on Russia, the attacker.
The publication also draws attention to the lack of unified leadership in Trump’s negotiating team. It is noted that “Trump’s negotiation team has many cooks, but no head chef.” The special envoys and the Secretary of State are dealing with different areas, while the Vice President criticizes everyone. Meetings were planned without a clear agenda, and the team was constantly waiting for Trump, whose opinion “could change 180 degrees in a matter of days.”
Unfortunately, the article notes, “peace in Ukraine is probably more distant today than when Trump took office in January.” Despite his initial “smart plan” of holding European leaders accountable for arming Ukraine and threatening Putin with “big problems” in the absence of peace, these threats have proven to be in vain.
The newspaper recalls Trump’s direct warning to Putin on January 22, where he threatened “high taxes, tariffs and sanctions” in the absence of a quick “deal.” However, these and subsequent threats had no effect.
Putin allegedly “skillfully played the weak hand with the new president” by creating a “back channel” of communication between Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, and Steve Witkoff, a real estate broker and friend of Trump. This channel, in particular, facilitated prisoner exchanges, such as the release of American teacher Mark Vogel.
However, despite initially “discussing a possible settlement in Ukraine” during a phone call between Trump and Putin, Russia remained adamant that the “root causes of the conflict be addressed,” a symbol of Ukraine’s acceptance of Russian hegemony.
The author argues that Trump has put “a lot of pressure on Ukraine.” For example, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanded that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign a deal that would give the United States a share of future mineral revenues, which Zelenskyy refused. This, as noted, “infuriated Trump.”
Also mentioned is the “unforgettable round of tantrums” that Trump threw at Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, which led to the temporary suspension of military and intelligence support for Ukraine. Although Zelenskyy eventually “capitulated,” European countries were shocked by Trump’s intensity, which ironically “intensified their support for Ukraine.”
Attempts by the Trump team to achieve a 30-day ceasefire, to which Ukraine agreed, were rejected by Putin. The Russian dictator refused to end any ground operations, despite Trump’s calls. Even after Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Russian strikes on Kyiv, Putin remained steadfast.
The final meeting between Russian and Ukrainian diplomats in Istanbul on May 16 resulted only in a prisoner exchange, as Russia refused to call a ceasefire.
The newspaper concludes that “the results of the negotiations on Ukraine are crystal clear.” Russia, being the aggressor, refused to stop fighting until it gets what it wants. And Trump, “who tried to become a peacemaker, is still allowing Putin to get away with it.” If Trump “finally fails to follow through on his threats,” the newspaper concludes, he will “have a hand in what could be the most devastating failure of his presidency.”
As a reminder, US President Donald Trump admitted during a phone call with European leaders that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is not ready to end the war in Ukraine because he believes he is winning.
