U.S. Officials Anticipate Prolonged Path to Peace in Ukraine
Key discussions within the Trump administration signal challenges ahead for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
U.S. officials have indicated that senior members of the Trump administration have recently discussed the potential impossibility of reaching a peace agreement in Ukraine in the coming months, leading to new strategies for exerting pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow.
At the onset of his new presidency, President Donald Trump and his top advisors set a goal for a complete ceasefire by April or May, with hopes of establishing a lasting peace agreement in the following months.
However, sources familiar with the discussions have suggested that neither agreement appears imminent, raising the likelihood of an extension to the war, which has persisted for three years, necessitating further Western support for Ukraine's military operations.
Such a scenario would represent a significant point of concern for Trump, who has branded himself as a deal-maker and has consistently promised a swift end to the conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, posing the risk of pulling NATO into direct confrontation with a nuclear-armed Russia.
For weeks, senior U.S. officials have expressed frustration in a series of private meetings regarding Kyiv's approach to negotiations, which they view as a reluctance to finalize a deal involving rare earth minerals with Washington while advancing peace talks.
In the past few days, there has been a noted increase in U.S. officials' frustration with Moscow.
Additionally, within a series of meetings and calls at the start of the week, officials from the White House and the U.S. State Department acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is resisting Washington's attempts to achieve a permanent peace agreement.
They also assessed the impact of potential economic or diplomatic sanctions in pushing Russia towards an agreement, along with the nature of such sanctions.
Rising anger towards Moscow, including discontent directed at Putin himself, has shifted discussions within the U.S. administration regarding Moscow's willingness to negotiate.
Sources indicate that Trump has maintained for weeks that he trusts Putin and believes the Russian leader is committed to peace.
However, in recent days, concerns within the White House about Putin's intentions have intensified, even as Trump has publicly reiterated his belief that Putin seeks to end the war.
The specific plans the U.S. administration may have to pressure Moscow remain unclear.
Nonetheless, one senior U.S. official noted that the White House continues to consider additional measures for tariffs and sanctions that could be imposed on the country.
Last Sunday, Trump expressed anger during an NBC News interview after Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that the U.S. might impose secondary tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% on Russian oil purchases.
At the onset of his new presidency, President Donald Trump and his top advisors set a goal for a complete ceasefire by April or May, with hopes of establishing a lasting peace agreement in the following months.
However, sources familiar with the discussions have suggested that neither agreement appears imminent, raising the likelihood of an extension to the war, which has persisted for three years, necessitating further Western support for Ukraine's military operations.
Such a scenario would represent a significant point of concern for Trump, who has branded himself as a deal-maker and has consistently promised a swift end to the conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, posing the risk of pulling NATO into direct confrontation with a nuclear-armed Russia.
For weeks, senior U.S. officials have expressed frustration in a series of private meetings regarding Kyiv's approach to negotiations, which they view as a reluctance to finalize a deal involving rare earth minerals with Washington while advancing peace talks.
In the past few days, there has been a noted increase in U.S. officials' frustration with Moscow.
Additionally, within a series of meetings and calls at the start of the week, officials from the White House and the U.S. State Department acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is resisting Washington's attempts to achieve a permanent peace agreement.
They also assessed the impact of potential economic or diplomatic sanctions in pushing Russia towards an agreement, along with the nature of such sanctions.
Rising anger towards Moscow, including discontent directed at Putin himself, has shifted discussions within the U.S. administration regarding Moscow's willingness to negotiate.
Sources indicate that Trump has maintained for weeks that he trusts Putin and believes the Russian leader is committed to peace.
However, in recent days, concerns within the White House about Putin's intentions have intensified, even as Trump has publicly reiterated his belief that Putin seeks to end the war.
The specific plans the U.S. administration may have to pressure Moscow remain unclear.
Nonetheless, one senior U.S. official noted that the White House continues to consider additional measures for tariffs and sanctions that could be imposed on the country.
Last Sunday, Trump expressed anger during an NBC News interview after Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that the U.S. might impose secondary tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% on Russian oil purchases.
