President Donald Trump's promise to mediate a peace deal between two fighting neighbors in Eastern Europe on the first day of his new administration has long been postponed, making it more difficult and may not happen at all than he is likely to be imaged. Nevertheless, the president hopes for a breakthrough in the next few days, but says he is ready to leave if his administration doesn't happen.
Trump said in his Truth Social Post on Saturday that Russia and Ukraine wanted to agree to a peace deal soon. This came the day after he showed that the White House was going to wash his hands in conflict. Trump told reporters Friday:
Soon we want to accomplish that. If for some reason one of the parties makes it very difficult, we are going to say, “You're stupid, you're stupid, you're scary people, we're just going to take the pass.” But hopefully, there's no need to do that.
In that same post, the president said peace should win and business deals could emerge between both rival nations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated his boss' feelings and frustration on Friday.
This effort will not last for weeks or months. So we need to make a quick decision right now. And whether this is viable in the coming weeks or not, I'm talking about the issue for a few days. …If that's not possible, if it's far from what this won't happen, I think the president is probably saying, “Well, we're done.” I will move on to other topics, if not more important in any way to the US.
Idiot
Trump expressed disillusionment with Russian and Ukrainian leaders after repeated attempts to mediate peace were unsuccessful. In an interview with NBC News in March, he said he was “offended” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and threatened to level the secondary tariffs on Russia. The Kremlin rejected ink for the 30-day full ceasefire agreement that Ukraine agreed to. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkov, has visited Russia three times. This will only result in a 30-day ceasefire and a partial ceasefire in the Black Sea to Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Over the weekend, Putin announced an unexpected one-day Easter ceasefire, but both sides accused them of violating it. Kiev said Russian forces continued to fire artillery, and the Russian Ministry of Defense had committed around 1,300 violations, including artillery strikes and drone attacks.
Russia's conditions
Moscow says that the peace agreement cannot be reached without a very specific agreement. First, acceptable deals must address the “root cause” of war. According to Kremlin, the prospect of expanding NATO and joining the Western Military Alliance in Ukraine is at the heart of the war. For many years, Russians have complained about the post-Soviet eastward expansion of NATO. US diplomat George Kennan, who wrote the policy for containment of the Soviet Union in 1947, warned in 1997 that “the expansion of NATO would be the most fateful mistake of American foreign policy in the entire post-Cold War era.” He insisted that he would ask European countries to choose between NATO and Russia.
The main justification for Putin's “special military operations” is to prevent neighbors from joining NATO. However, the war only strengthened Ukraine's participation. Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky repeatedly asked to become members. And while that hasn't happened, the war actually pushed two other countries, Finland and Sweden, into the arms of NATO.
There is no NATO in Ukraine
The Trump administration has actually agreed to rule out Ukraine joining NATO as a way to end the war. Moscow welcomed the news, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday: The US is waiting for a response from Kiev. Zelensky on Monday accused Russia of extending the war by continuing to point a common finger to both sides, although Ukraine is ready to move towards a permanent ceasefire.
Territorial concessions, military aid
Another Russian requirement is to maintain the area taken from Ukraine. Russia now rules the entire eastern part of Ukraine, including the one that it acquired in 2014. The Trump administration's proposal includes a potential perception of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Russia also hopes that the Western countries will stop arming Ukraine. That turns out to be difficult. This month, Ukraine's European allies pledged $24 billion in new military support. European leaders have published several comments showing their desire to continue the war.
Russian UN voy Vassilly Nevenzia said on Thursday that a complete ceasefire is “unrealistic at this stage.” He accused the West of using negotiations as a cover to run through Ukrainian forces.
