Trump admits failure to end Russia–Ukraine war — The Atlantic
Photo: Donald Trump (GettyImages)
The White House has acknowledged the failure of attempts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine—US efforts to persuade the parties to compromise have been thwarted by the Kremlin's ambitions and Kyiv's refusal to cede territory, according to The Atlantic.
US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment that his efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine had not been successful.
The agency notes that the White House attempted to put pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow, but this effort did not yield results.
According to journalists, the American leader underestimated Vladimir Putin's determination. The Russian President, the agency notes, was obsessed with the idea of destroying Ukrainian independence and did not consider compromises that would preserve Ukraine's sovereignty.
Unsuccessful diplomatic moves
According to sources, Trump believed that the conflict could be stopped by a simple agreement that would recognize Russia's territorial gains and provide it with economic benefits.
However, as subsequent events showed, the Russian side had no intention of limiting itself to partial solutions.
The article says that recently, President Trump tried to change the dynamics: he told Putin that he could provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles and tried to convince Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cede territory, but both attempts were unsuccessful.
Conflict is more complex than it seems
According to unnamed administration officials, a settlement of the war between Russia and Ukraine could be possible if the parties showed prudence. However, as the authors of the agency emphasize, the situation remains complicated.
The article notes that they seem to think that the main conflict is simple and amenable to compromise: Russia wants to get the rest of the territory it does not control in Donbas; Ukraine wants reliable security guarantees. However, in reality, the problem is much more complex and challenging.
Analysts emphasize that US attempts to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough have run into deep contradictions that cannot be resolved without a change in Moscow's stance on Ukraine's future.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed confidence that the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest will take place, albeit later than initially expected.
Donald Trump stressed that the US does not seek military conflicts, but if they arise, the country is prepared to respond decisively and promptly.
