Bombshell report reveals Trump's new position on Russia-Ukraine war days after his high-stake call with Putin

Time of India

22-05-2025

President Trump has shifted his stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, suggesting that the two nations must independently negotiate peace. Despite earlier promises to broker a quick resolution and threats of sanctions, Trump now appears hesitant to pressure Putin, citing potential economic opportunities with Russia. This shift has caused concern among European allies and raised questions about the U.S.
When Trump was campaigning for his presidency for the 2024 elections, he said he could end the war started by Putin in "24 hours"
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Trump's position on sanctions
US President Donald Trump has told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders that Moscow and Kyiv must independently end the war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports The New York Times. Trump reportedly told European leaders during a private phone call that Putin is unwilling to end the war in Ukraine because he believes he's currently winning.When Trump was campaigning for his presidency for the 2024 elections, he said he could end the war started by Putin in "24 hours" but after more than 100 days in office, the US President had still appeared optimistic about his abilities as the dealmaker-in-chief.Trump's apparent defense of Putin's absence from last week's peace talks in Istanbul—and reports that he believes it's up to Russia and Ukraine to negotiate peace—have heightened concerns that he is backing away from involvement. This comes just days after he threatened sanctions if Russia failed to join Ukraine in declaring a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.According to the report, Trump, following repeated promises that he can play a role in ending more than two-year long war, had informed Zelensky and his allies that peace was up to Russia and Ukraine, which the paper suggested showed he was distancing himself from the process. Trump would not join European sanctions if Putin refused a ceasefire because of the trade opportunities that Russia offers, NYT reported citing sources."There is a large economic opportunity cost to sanctions, in addition to enforcement costs. The president always wants to maximize economic opportunities for Americans, and sanctions hinder business opportunities," a White House spokesperson told Newsweek.John Foreman, a former U.K. defense attaché to both Kyiv and Moscow, said that Trump's decision to abandon the sanctions-first approach would come as a shock to Europe, which he claimed has been 'played like suckers.'Vuk Vuksanovic, an associate at the London School of Economics' think tank LSE IDEAS, told Newsweek, 'Zelensky never had Trump as a fully committed ally.'U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that Washington continues to supply Ukraine with weapons, and that Trump is seeking to end a conflict that 'neither side can win.'Since a dispute with the White House in February, Zelensky has accepted Trump's unconditional ceasefire proposal, signed a minerals agreement, and traveled to Turkey for talks convened by Putin—talks which the Russian leader ultimately did not attend.Concerns that President Trump's push for a quick peace deal might give Putin an upper hand were somewhat eased when Trump threatened new tariffs and sanctions against Russia if it refused to agree to a 30-day, unconditional ceasefire—similar to the one proposed on May 8. However, last week, Trump appeared to excuse Putin's absence from the Istanbul peace talks, stating that 'nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together.'After earlier suggesting he might walk away from negotiations, Trump later posted on Truth Social, following a call with Putin, that it was up to Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict themselves.According to Foreman, Trump has strayed from the shuttle diplomacy approach his administration had pursued since January, which involved pushing for a ceasefire and talks under the threat of increased sanctions. Instead, Trump seemed to accommodate Putin's delays. Vuksanovic added that Russia was using the delay to solidify its hold on Ukraine's Donbas region, while Kyiv worked to convince Trump that Moscow was obstructing peace efforts and sought more U.S. support.When Putin rejected the ceasefire proposal on Monday, Trump chose not to impose additional sanctions. A White House official told the Times that Trump was hesitant to jeopardize future economic opportunities with Russia. Meanwhile, the U.K. joined the EU in a 17-sanction package targeting Russia—without U.S. participation. A European official told the New York Times that Trump 'never seemed invested' in the sanctions effort, describing his threats as 'largely performative.'This divergence has created a rift between Washington and NATO allies. Foreman warned that this leaves Ukraine exposed, as President Zelensky shifted strategy from demanding security guarantees to pursuing a ceasefire and talks—only to see U.S. commitment waver. Questions now linger over Trump's willingness to pressure Putin, especially if it risks economic ties.Foreman noted that Trump has not ended arms shipments or intelligence sharing with Ukraine, nor rolled back existing sanctions on Russia. 'As the killing continues, he may change course again,' he added.