Early in the week, US President Donald Trump declared that peace in Ukraine was at hand. Fresh from talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, Trump boasted of his success in settling the war with Russia quickly. His allies framed it as a signature diplomatic triumph, one that would end his second-term legacy as a peacemaker, the Wall Street Journal reported.
By Thursday, euphoria had worn off
Only four days afterward, Trump's tone was radically different. Trump tweeted that Ukraine "has no chance" of prevailing unless it launches new attacks on Russia. He compared Kyiv to a sports team being allowed to play only defence, suggesting the peace negotiations could not succeed unless Ukraine applies new battlefield pressure on Russia. The shift reflected frustration with slow-moving diplomacy and uncertainty about what to do next.
Kyiv resists pressure
For Ukraine, Trump's new rhetoric underscored the difficulty of working with Washington with him in the driver's seat. The Zelensky government has resisted Trump's calls for quick concessions to Moscow, stating that granting them would undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and embolden Russia. Ukrainian leaders worry that Trump's call for a quick deal ignores the nature of the battlefield, where small territorial gains come at great cost.
Moscow holds firm
Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, has been obstinate in offering concessions. Russia, instead, has increased attacks in eastern Ukraine, attempting to drive its influence before a cease-fire can be negotiated. Moscow is reported by analysts as seeing Trump's eagerness for a deal as leverage, hoping it can get better terms by keeping up the fighting. This has only further complicated the challenge for Trump in portraying himself as a tough broker.
European nerves fray
European allies, initially interested in Trump's offer to negotiate, have grown worried about his shifting line. Diplomats fear that pressuring Ukraine to make early concessions would weaken Western unity and embolden Putin. European leaders have also worried that Trump's unscripted style — mixing social media tweets with behind-scenes deal-making — risks confusing allies as well as enemies.
Domestic politics at work
Trump's change also has domestic forces driving it. His base has grown increasingly sceptical about long-term American involvement in Ukraine, preferring instead a quick fix that keeps America in its rearview mirror. Opponents, on the other hand, accuse him of risking handing Moscow a strategic victory. The White House has tried to balance these conflicting demands by bluffing hard against Russia while still expressing a wish for rapprochement — an attempt so far unable to bear fruit.
The limitations of Trump's approach
The four-day loss of momentum shows just how shaky Trump's peace bet is. Without Moscow or Kyiv making concrete commitments, and with European allies holding back, his ability to apply pressure to negotiations appears limited. Observers say the episode shows a familiar script: grand declarations followed by rapid change of heart, leaving allies to guess what America desires. For Ukraine, the message is clear — Washington's sponsorship comes with strings attached.
Trump's promise of a quick end to the war in Ukraine has already been swallowed up by the sands, exposing the deep divisions between Kyiv, Moscow, and the West. His erring rhetoric underscores the difficulty of reconciling battlefield facts with political desire. What had begun as a bravura prediction of imminent peace now seems more a test of Trump's unconventional diplomacy — one in which outcomes remain as volatile as ever.
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