Trump team reveals its impatience as it threatens to walk away from Russia-Ukraine peace talks ! Analysis

 

Trump Vows Quick End to Ukraine War, But His Team Struggles with Complex Peace Talks

Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours if reelected. But as his administration navigates its first few months, the realities of high-stakes diplomacy appear more daunting than anticipated. Negotiations have stalled, and officials seem uncertain whether to push forward or abandon talks altogether.

One principle in diplomacy is being willing to walk away — a tactic that can show strength or signal a lack of focus. It remains unclear whether the Trump administration is using that as leverage in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, or simply running up against the limits of its diplomatic bandwidth. Critics say the latter has plagued its foreign policy efforts from the start.

At an airport press conference in Paris, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the U.S. might "move on" from efforts to mediate the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II. That marked another shift for an administration that has already scaled back its involvement in Gaza peace efforts and eased off earlier economic moves like sweeping global tariffs.

The administration’s initial promise — that Trump could end the war in a day — has come and gone, with little progress to show. Unlike historic peace efforts such as the Dayton Accords or Camp David, this White House has not yet engaged in the kind of sustained, behind-the-scenes diplomacy those deals required.

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin three times and spent hours listening to Moscow’s perspective on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Rubio has held phone talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and met European and Ukrainian leaders in Paris. But these conversations have yet to yield tangible results or outline firm commitments for long-term security guarantees.

So far, there’s little evidence the U.S. has pushed hard for concessions from Russia or made significant progress toward a workable peace framework. A defining characteristic of the Trump team’s approach seems to be an expectation that peace can be achieved quickly and with minimal effort.

Rubio voiced frustration Friday, emphasizing the cost of endless diplomacy with no outcome. “We’re not going to continue flying all over the world having meeting after meeting if no progress is being made,” he said. “If either side is serious about peace, we want to help. But if not, we’re going to move on to other priorities that matter to the United States.”

This followed Trump’s earlier statement that he was waiting on Russia’s response to a proposed framework for peace — a response he expected within days. According to some European and Ukrainian officials, this mounting frustration with Moscow is long overdue.

Still, any U.S. decision to withdraw from the talks risks handing Putin a strategic victory. Without American diplomatic and financial support, Ukraine would be left more vulnerable. From Moscow’s perspective, this could be a win regardless: either a favorable deal from Washington or a U.S. administration that grows weary and disengages.

There are more optimistic voices within the administration. Vice President JD Vance, known for his skepticism toward U.S. aid to Ukraine, told Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday that he was "optimistic" about the possibility of ending the war. He hinted that even recent developments suggested an opening for a ceasefire.

However, Rubio and Witkoff both acknowledged that the opposing sides remain far apart. Bloomberg reported Friday that the U.S. had offered limited sanctions relief to Russia as part of a possible deal — a proposal first floated by Rubio during his confirmation process. Meanwhile, Witkoff expressed surprise on Fox News that Russia’s demands went far beyond just a ceasefire. “There’s just a lot of detail involved,” he said. “It’s a complicated situation, rooted in deep issues between the two nations.”

Where the administration once faced a steep learning curve, it now seems to be grappling with a patience problem. And while the U.S. may have the option to walk away from the table, Ukraine does not.