U.S. President Donald Trump, celebrated for his recent involvement in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating the release of Israeli hostages, is now shifting focus towards resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House following a positive phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy is optimistic about drawing parallels between Trump’s success in the Middle East and the potential for peace in Europe.
While Zelenskyy and Trump remain hopeful about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, experts warn that this task is significantly more challenging than resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict. Charles Kupchan from the Council on Foreign Relations underscores the differences between the two conflicts, emphasizing the limited leverage the U.S. has over Russia compared to its relationship with Israel.
Maria Snegovaya of the Center for Strategic and International Studies echoes this sentiment, stating that achieving a breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine conflict will require more than just diplomatic efforts. Trump’s proposition of providing Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of reaching deep into Russia, is seen as a potential strategy to pressure Putin towards a peace agreement.
Despite the strategic implications of the Tomahawk missiles, analysts caution that this alone may not compel the Kremlin to agree to a peace deal. Both Kupchan and Snegovaya suggest that significant economic pressure on Russia would be necessary to force Putin into concessions. While Trump remains optimistic about his ability to mediate between Putin and Zelenskyy, experts emphasize the complex nature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the challenges it presents.
Trump’s upcoming meeting with Zelenskyy is expected to focus on the issue of providing military support to Ukraine. The President’s confidence in his ability to negotiate peace in Ukraine remains unwavering, despite the complexities of the situation.
